Abstract
It has been shown 1 that in liver and adrenal of rats there is a green fluorescence which fades during irradiation. This was attributed to presence of Vitamin A. Bodies showing morphologically similar green fading fluorescence were visualized in human organs. They gave histochemical reactions identical with those observed in normal rats or in Vitamin A deficient rats realimented with Vitamin A. These reactions are: solubility in alcohol, acetone, and mineral oil, and insolubility in water, acids, alkalis, glycerin, and reducing agents. The green fluorescence was not visible after treatment with oxidizing agents or prolonged fixation, especially at temperatures above 20° C.
The characteristic fluorescence, attributed to the presence of Vitamin A, was studied in 113 human livers by means of fluorescence microscopy. There was great variation in amount and distribution of the green fluorescing bodies. This observation agrees with chemical determinations made by Moore 2 and others. Usually the Kupffer cells showed small fluorescing droplets. After staining with phosphin 3 R they revealed silver-gray fluorescence. This was also found if staining was applied after fading of the green fluorescence. This indicated the presence of a carrier substance of lipoid character. The silver-gray fluorescence was absent after acetone treatment. In infectious diseases the number of green fluorescing Kupffer cells was generally increased. A local increase was noted on the edge of various infiltrations and sometimes in the granulation tissue of cirrhosis (5 cases). The number was diminished in starvation and acute hepatitis.
In epithelial cells green fading fluorescence may be present in 4 sites. (1) It is present in fat droplets, as those which occur in physiological fatty infiltration. The smaller the droplets, the brighter was the fluorescence. In severe fatty infiltration the fluorescence was reduced.
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