Kupffer cell hyperplasia in liver diseases. Demonstration by scanning electron microscopy of biopsy samples.

Kupffer cells were observed in liver biopsy tissues of 9 cases of liver diseases by scanning electron microscopy to prove Kupffer cell proliferation numerically. Kupffer cell count per 0.01 mm2 of cracked surface of liver lobule was 1.2 +/- 0.3 in the convalescent stage of a mild acute hepatitis case and 1.2 +/- 0.1 in a chronic persistent hepatitis case with slight inflammation. Whereas it was increased to 2.4-5.5 (P less than 0.01) in the convalescent stage of moderate to severe acute hepatitis cases, 1.8 +/- 0.1 (p less than 0.05) in a chronic active hepatitis case, 2.5 +/- 0.3 (p less than 0.001) in an alcoholic portal fibrosis case and 2.2 +/- 0.4 (p less than 0.001) in a liver cirrhosis case. Kupffer cell count per mm3 of liver lobule was estimated roughly 3,500 in the convalescent stage of a mild acute hepatitis case and in a mild chronic persistent hepatitis case and 7,000 to 16,000 in the convalescent stage of moderate to severe acute hepatitis cases.