A Prospective Observational Study on the Role of Special Stains in Physiological and Histopathological Study of Liver

Author(s): Maheswari N, Sanatan Behera, Arupam Mahapatro, Satyashree Ray

Aim and objectives: This study aims to assess the value of special stains, such as Masson's trichrome and Reticulin, in enhancing the analysis of non-neoplastic liver specimens. Additionally, it seeks to quantify glycogen levels using PAS-stained slides and image J software for potential therapeutic implications in clinical settings.

Material and methods: This prospective observational investigation was carried out on 25 liver tissues obtained from the cadavers inS.C.B Medical college from March 2021 to August 2022. Liver tissue from diverse sources underwent histological processing and staining techniques including H&E, Masson's trichrome, Reticulin stain, Perl's Iron stain, and P.A.S. stain. Tissue preservation involved sequential immersion in various solutions followed by staining, dehydration, and mounting. Stains were prepared and applied according to established protocols. Image analysis of P.A.S. slides was conducted using Image J software to estimate liver glycogen content.

Results: Out of 50 liver specimens, 23 exhibited preserved microarchitecture; 25 specimens underwent staining and histomorphometric analysis. PAS staining revealed a glycogen volume of 620.161g at 10X and 637.4g at 40X magnification, with no significant difference in area involvement between 10X and 40X fields (mean area: 100,750.18 at 10X, 7,041.77 at 40X).

Conclusion: The study demonstrates significant glycogen content variation in liver specimens, highlighting the importance of meticulous histomorphometric analysis in understanding hepatic pathology. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate underlying factors contributing to these variations.