Alcoholic hyalin, microfilaments and microtubules in alcoholic hepatitis.

The alcoholic hyalin which is composed of light and dark occasionally swollen and conglomerating filaments, is found to be surrounded by proliferated RER, hypertrophied Golgi apparatus and mitochondria containing enlarged matrical granules. Besides, microfilaments and some microtubules are seen in relation to the hyaline bodies. In biopsies where hyaline bodies are scarce, hepatocytes without alcoholic hyalin present similar changes and the Golgi apparatus is seen to contain very low density lipoprotein-like particles. These ultrastructural changes are suggested to be related to an early stage in the development of alcoholic hyalin. The abundance of microfilaments indicates an increased motility of the hepatocytes, possibly as a part of the regenerative processes. It can hardly be precluded that microfilaments disintegrate and accumulate in the alcoholic hyaline mass.