THE LOCALIZATION OF ALBUMIN AND FIBRINOGEN IN HUMAN LIVER CELLS

Human liver sections were stained with anti-human serum albumin and/or anti-human fibrin monomer fluorescent conjugates. Approximately 10 per cent of the hepatic cells stained specifically for human serum albumin,1 per cent for fibrinogen, and 0.1 per cent for both. Approximately 18 per cent of the Kupffer cells stained specifically for human serum albumin and 33 per cent for fibrinogen. Staining of both cell types was mainly cytoplasmic, although albumin was found in the nuclei of some parenchymal cells, depending on the method of fixation. Cytoplasmic granules staining specifically for fibrinogen could be seen just inside the cell membrane facing the bile caniculi in many more parenchymal cells than the 1 per cent showing diffuse cytoplasmic staining. The technical difficulties involved in preparing fluorescent conjugates against these antigens and in the fixation of these antigens for immunofluorescent staining are discussed.