Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1997, 182 (2)

Short Report

Two-D Distance Distribution Analysis: An Application to HBcAg-Positive Hepatocytes and Its Relation to Septum Formation in Cirrhosis

MAREYUKI ENDOH, RYOJI CHIBA and TOHRU TAKAHASHI

Department of Pathology, Institute of Development, Aging and Canoer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-77

  • The morphogenesis of cirrhotic septa in chronic hepatitis B was studied assuming that they arise at the sites of hepatocellular necrosis invoked by host immune reaction against HBcAg-expressing hepatocytes. Sections from three livers with chronic hepatitis B, all in cirrhotic stage, were immunostained with HBcAg and subjected to morphometry to analyze the distribution of HBcAg(+) hepatocytes and its relation with septa. HBcAg(+) cells were not distributed randomly over the nodules but forming focal areas. The septum formation along these foci was shown by 2-D distance distribution analysis, a technique we devised. Upon a sheet of color microphotograph of immunostained section, hundreds of test points each 400 mm apart were arranged by overlaying a tessellated grid. From each of the points hitting the nodules, the distance to the nearest nodulo-septal border D(min) was measured. Measurement was performed on a total of 2,585 test points. It was shown that the mean D(min) in the HBcAg(+) areas was significantly smaller than in HBcAg(-) areas. Thus, the cirrhotic septa are considered to arise at the places of HBcAg(+) foci, connecting them by postnecrotic collapsing.
    Key words--- cirrhogenesis; HBcAg; chronic hepatitis B; morphometry; pathology
    © 1997 Tohoku University Medical Press


    Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1997, 182, 181-184
    Address for reprints: Mareyuki Endoh, M.D., Department of Pathology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-77, Japan.
    e-mail: mareyuki@idac.tohoku.ac.jp


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