Liver Pigmentation
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Congenital melanosis
- in calves and lambs
- black discoloration of small irregular portions of the liver
Haemosiderin
- in chronic passive congestion and surrounding areas where there has been prior necrosis and haemorrhage
- found within the Kuppfer cells
- use Perls' stain
Lipofuscin
- an insoluble golden brown pigment which occurs within hepatocytes
- use Schmorl's stain - dark blue
- increases with age - called the 'senility' pigment
- it is commonly seen in hepatocytes near to the centrilobular vein in older cats
- no clinical significance
Bile
- especially prominent in obstructive jaundice
- discolours the tissues green
- intrahepatic bile canaliculi are distended with a greenish pigment - called bile plugs
- larger foci are seen in long standing cases when the hepatocytes rupture: the discharged bile is then surrounded by macrophages and perhaps giant cells - called bile lakes
- use Fouchet stain - green