A. Shiga et K. Shirota, Vimentin/cytokeratin coexpression foci in a well-differentiated canine hepatocellular carcinoma, J VET MED S, 62(2), 2000, pp. 199-202
A number of pale-stained cell foci were observed within a well-differentiat
ed hepatocellular carcinoma which developed in a 10-year-old male mongrel d
og. The Foci were composed of hepatocyte-like cells, but did not contain gl
ycogen granules in their cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the focus cells
coexpressed both bile duct type cytokeratin and vimentin. Electronmicroscop
ically, they were abundant in cytoplasmic organelles and contained bile pig
ments. Bile canaliculi were noted between the focus cells. The focus cells
in the present case were considered to be neoplastic hepatocytes expressed
bipotential features of hepatic stem cells.