Changes

====Histological Appearance of Fatty Change====

====Histological Appearance of Fatty Change====

*** The fat appears either as globules or in varying sizes of vacuoles in the cytoplasm.

 

In the heart, it

* The fat appears either as globules or is contained in varying sizes of vacuoles in the cytoplasm.

appears as tiny groups of

** In the heart, it appears as tiny groups of vacuoles dispersed along the myofibrils throughout the whole cell.  

vacuoles dispersed along

** In the liver and kidney, these vacuoles tend to, but not always, coalesce (come together;

the myofibrils

fuse with one another ) to form larger ones, and you may see one or more large globules filling the cytoplasm with displacement of the nucleus to the periphery of the cell.  

throughout the whole

The nucleus remains normal unless the degree of fatty change becomes incompatible with the continued existence of the cell.

cell. In the liver and

kidney, these vacuoles

tend to, but not always,

coalesce (come together;

fuse with one another )

to form larger ones, and

you may see one or

more large globules

filling the cytoplasm

with displacement of the nucleus to the periphery of the cell. The nucleus remains normal

unless the degree of fatty change becomes incompatible with the continued existence of the

cell.

To decide whether or not a vacuole in the cytoplasm of a hepatocyte is fat ( because there are

To decide whether or not a vacuole in the cytoplasm of a hepatocyte is fat ( because there are

two further conditions which may produce vacuoles in hepatocytes, namely the vacuolar

two further conditions which may produce vacuoles in hepatocytes, namely the vacuolar

These sections are over twice as thick as those attained by sectioning paraffin blocks, and so

These sections are over twice as thick as those attained by sectioning paraffin blocks, and so

there may be some overlap of cells on the section, and less clarity of the individual cells.

there may be some overlap of cells on the section, and less clarity of the individual cells.

 

Causes of 'fatty change'

====Causes of Fatty Change====

1. Dietary and Metabolic

1. Dietary and Metabolic

a. Starvation - this is an increased mobilisation of fat from the body fat stores in response to

a. Starvation - this is an increased mobilisation of fat from the body fat stores in response to