REGENERATIVE PATTERN OF LIVER-CELLS IN PRIMARY BILIARY-CIRRHOSIS, ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS, POSTHEPATITIC CIRRHOSIS (HBV-RELATED) AND HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA - COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS BY COMPUTERIZED MORPHOMETRY

Computerized morphometrical measurements were made of liver cells and their nuclei taken from biopsy specimens of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), alcoholic cirrhosis, posthepatitic cirrhosis (HBV-related), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The specimens were stained with hemat oxylin-eosin (HE), Mallory's stain for collagen fibers, orcein method, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction, and silver impregnation, Light m icroscopic views were then selected and original liver cells were magn ified x 1000. The size of liver cell nuclei, distance between correspo nding liver cell nuclei and distribution pattern of hepatocytes were c alculated by computer. Variation in regenerative activity among the fo ur disease groups was noted, Regenerative features of liver cells were mild in degree in PBC, In alcoholic cirrhosis, regenerative features of liver cells were less prominent than in posthepatitic cirrhosis. In posthepatitic cirrhosis, regenerative liver cells were well developed , showing remarkable pleomorphism of liver cell nuclei and expansive a rrangement of liver cell cords, This tendency towards regenerative act ivity suggests that the possibility of HCC occurring is greater in pos thepatitic cirrhosis than in PBC or alcoholic cirrhosis. It was conclu ded that morphologically, there is a greater possibility of occurrence of HCC in posthepatitic cirrhosis than in any other type of cirrhosis , because of its high regenerative hepatocytic activity. Also etiologi cal factors of liver diseases are more important in the developement o f liver cell regeneration. Furthermore, regenerative activity can be m easured by computerized morphometry as an established methodology.