Liver, glycogen storage (PAS stain)
Notes
This PAS-stained specimen demonstrates the presence of glycogen (red color) stored in hepatocytes. The distribution of varying concentrations of glycogen can reveal recent nutritional history. Note that in this specimen, glycogen is more densely concentrated in near the central central vein than near the portal area.
Because sinusoidal blood flows from the periphery toward the center of the lobule, hepatocytes in the periphery respond first to whatever demands are placed upon them by incoming blood. Therefore, glycogen is depleted first from the periphery during times of fasting and deposited first in the periphery during times of feasting.
A similar effect governs hepatocyte damage. Cells in the lobule periphery will be more vulnerable to incoming toxins, while cells in the lobule center will be more vulnerable to hypoxia.
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Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu
SIUC / School
of Medicine / Anatomy / David
King
https://histology.siu.edu/erg/GI175b.htm
Last updated: 14 May 2022 / dgk