title: Histopathological characteristics of Ito cells and Kupffer cells in the feline liver.
abstract: The histopathological characteristics of Ito cells and Kupffer cells were investigated in the liver of 21 cats (age range: 6 months -18 years) autopsied in our laboratory during 2003. Immunohistochemical examinations were performed using antibodies against lysozyme, desmin and alpha-smooth muscle actin. No Kupffer cells reacted with the antibody against lysozyme. However, macrophages in the lung and spleen showed a positive reaction with the antibody. This finding suggests a possibility that the amount of lysozyme in the Kupffer cells of feline liver is comparatively small. On the other hand, large vacuole-laden cells were observed in the hepatic perisinusoid of some feline cases, and these cells showed a positive reaction with antibodies against desmin and alpha-smooth muscle actin. These cells could be Ito cells with large lipid vacuoles. This conclusion was supported by electron microscopic observation and oil red O staining. However, no such large vacuole-laden perisinusoidal cells were detected in the liver of young cats less than 2 years old. The present study revealed the histopathological features of Kupffer cells and Ito cells in the feline liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uetsuka
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasoshima
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003893:Desmin / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000662:veterinary; D009113:Muramidase / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003893:Desmin; D009113:Muramidase