Hydropic degeneration

The presence of protein-hydropic degeneration (Fig. 13a), punctuate infiltration and necrosis, reaction of hepatic macrophages (Fig. 13b), nuclear polimorphysm (Fig. 13c), inflammatory infiltration of portal tracts and perivenular infiltration (Fig. 13d) were considered in the assessment of morphological alterations in the liver of the mice. 

Microscopic investigation of the mice from group I revealed the presence of vessel congestion, small numerous intralobular and perivenular infiltrates, moderate focal protein-hydropic degeneration combined with polymorphism of hepatocyte nuclei and inconstant lymphoid infiltration of portal tracts. Marked activation of histiomacrophage elements — hepatic macrophages must be emphasized. Homotypic moderate inflammatory alterations remained in the liver on Days 3, 5, 7 and 10. The presence of inflammatory mononuclear infiltration in the walls of central veins, typical for a viral infection, reflects a massive lesion of the vascular... 

Effects on the skin were observed in rats treated dermally with 40 mg nickel/kg/day as nickel sulfate for 15 or 30 days (Mathur et al. 1977). The effects included distortion of the epidermis and dermis after 15 days and hyperkeratinization, vacuolization, hydropic degeneration of the basal layer, and atrophy of the epidermis at 30 days. Biochemical changes in the skin (enzymatic changes, increased lipid peroxidation, and an increase in the content of sulfhydryl groups and amino nitrogen) were observed in... 

Because of the loss of ionic balance, the water content of the cell increases (swelling or hydropic degeneration and membrane blebs occur). 

MORPHOLOGY OF CELL INJURY AND CELL DEATH 16.4.1 Cell Swelling (Hydropic Degeneration)... 

Liver cell hydrops Liver cell hydrops is characterized by swollen hepatocytes, which contain a lot of liquid, but are generally free of fat. Hydropic liver cells may be 2 to 4 and even 10 times the size of normal hepatocytes. Cell hydrops is completely reversible when abstention is maintained. These cells usually die when alcohol intake is continued and are subsequently removed by macrophages and leucocytes. This leads to an alteration in the cytoskele-ton. Hydropically degenerated liver cells and hyaline liberated from Mallory bodies produce a leucocytic inflammatory reaction. Unless it is compensated by regenerative processes, this cellular deficit results in defective healing by fine-fibred, cell-poor fibrils. 

Fig. 28.2 Hydropic-degenerated hepatocyte with Mallory body (-) (HE)...

Fig. 28.9 Alcoholic steatohepatitis. Satellitosis of neutrophilic granulocytes surrounding hydropic-degenerated hepatocytes with Mallory hyalin (—>)...

Fig. 31.7 Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Hydropic degenerated hepatocytes with Mallory s hyaline (- ) l)mphocytic and granulocytic infiltration as well as activated Kupffer cells (HE)...

Hydropic degeneration of the convoluted tubules, destruction of tubular epithelial cells, tubular dilation, and proteinaceous casts were observed in half of the rabbits treated with Aroclor 1260 in an isopropanol... 

Renal Effects. No reports of renal effects in humans were located. In nonhuman animals, mild kidney effects have been observed following oral exposure to selenium compounds. These effects include hydropic degeneration in sheep exposed to selenite and nephropathy in monkeys exposed to selenomethionine. Rats appear to be more sensitive than mice to the renal effects of selenium compounds. A dose-related increase in renal papilla degeneration, described as mild to minimal, was observed in rats treated with selenate or selenite in the drinking water, while the only kidney effect noted in mice treated with sodium selenate or selenite in the drinking water was increased kidney weight. Selenium sulfide administration to mice has, however, been shown to produce interstitial nephritis. 

In domestic and experimental animals, renal effects have been observed following both acute and chronic oral exposures to selenium compounds. Administration of a single oral (subroute not specified) dose of sodium selenite at 5 mg selenium/kg/day produced hydropic degeneration of the kidney in sheep (Smyth et al. 1990). In a study of the toxicity of L-selenomethionine to long-tailed macaques by nasogastric intubation, two animals administered 0.24 mg selenium/kg/day aspirated vomitus secondary to emesis, developed obvious gastritis, and died of anorexia, one after 10 days and the other after 15 days of... 

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