Large hepatocytes filled with finely granular homogenous pale pink cytoplasm are typically seen in a healthy liver. The pale pink color is due to the presence of glycogen, which is a polysaccharide stored in liver cells. Glycogen is a major source of energy for the body and helps regulate blood sugar levels. The finely granular homogenous appearance is due to the uniform distribution of glycogen throughout the cytoplasm.
Ground glass hepatocyte
Micrography showing ground glass hepatocytes. H&E coloring.
At the liver pathologyan ground glass hepatocyte, abbreviated GGHit’s a liver parenchyma cell with a hazy flat appearance and uniformly opaque cytoplasm In the light microscopy. Granular homogeneous eosinophilic staining of the cytoplasm is caused by the presence of HBsAg.
Appearance is classically associated with abundant Hepatitis B antigen at the endoplasmic reticulum, but it can also be drug-induced. In the context of hepatitis B, GGHs are only seen in chronic infections, i.e. they are not seen in acute hepatitis B.
GGHs were first described by Hadziyannis et al.
types
Several different types of GGHs are recognized:
- Type I – morphologically consist of GGHs that are scattered singly and have weak Pre-S2 positive immunostaining.
- Type II – morphologically consist of GGHs that are in clusters and have negative Pre-S2 immunostaining.
There is some evidence to suggest that type II GGHs predispose to hepatocellular carcinoma.
See too
additional images
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Micrography showing hepatocytes on ground glass. H&E coloring.
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Micrography showing hepatocytes on ground glass. H&E coloring.
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Micrography showing hepatocytes on ground glass. H&E coloring.
References
External Links
- Hepatocyte image on ground glass – med.ohio-state.edu.
- chronic hepatitis – pathconsultddx. with.
