[Electron microscopic study of cytoplasmic crystals in liver damages caused by alcoholism]

Liver biopsy of 50 patients with liver disease of alcoholic etiology was examined electronmicroscopically. In every stage of the disease presence of intramitochondrial paracrystalloids was revealed. Hyalin of alcoholic origin of fibrillar structure was seen in cases of alcoholic hepatitis. By the electronmicroscopic examination of three cases of alcoholic fatty liver a special form of cytoplasmatic paracristalloid inclusion could be seen. This inclusion consists of membranless parallely lying fibrills. Changing the plain of the preparats containing inclusions by the aid of a goniometer the structure of the inclusions appeared in a form of "honey-comb". Inclusion in the question can not be regarded identical neither with intramitochondrial inclusions nor with the fibrills of the so called alcoholic hyalin. Formation and function of these inclusions are as yet unknown.