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Published on: August 23, 2022
Spontaneous amphophilic focus in the liver of a young Sprague-Dawley rat
Hiroko Sato1, Tetsuya Sakairi, Shiro Takagi
1Safety Research Laboratories, Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1-1-1, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0818, Japan. sato.hiroko@mc.mt-pharma.co.jp
Abstract:
Altered hepatocellular focus was histopathologically observed in the liver of a 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley rat. The hepatocytes within this lesion had diffusely eosinophilic cytoplasm with scattered basophilia and slightly enlarged nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Based on these cytological characteristics, the lesion of these hepatocytes was classified as an amphophilic focus. This is the first report to describe spontaneous amphophilic focus in a young rat.
Insights
A spontaneous amphophilic focus was identified in the liver of a young Sprague-Dawley rat. This histopathological finding in juvenile rats is reported here for the first time.
Area of Science:
- Hepatopathology
- Toxicologic Pathology
- Rodent Models
Background:
- Hepatocellular lesions are common in rodent studies.
- Spontaneous lesions require careful characterization for accurate interpretation.
- Understanding baseline liver pathology in young animals is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a unique hepatocellular lesion observed in a young Sprague-Dawley rat.
- To characterize the cytological features of this spontaneous liver lesion.
- To establish a baseline for amphophilic focus in juvenile rats.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of rat liver tissue.
- Cytological analysis of hepatocytes within the observed lesion.
- Classification of the lesion based on established criteria.
Main Results:
- An altered hepatocellular focus was identified in a 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley rat.
- Hepatocytes exhibited diffusely eosinophilic cytoplasm with scattered basophilia.
- Slightly enlarged nuclei with prominent nucleoli were noted, consistent with an amphophilic focus.
Conclusions:
- The observed lesion was classified as a spontaneous amphophilic focus.
- This represents the first documented report of an amphophilic focus in a young rat.
- This finding contributes to the understanding of spontaneous liver lesions in juvenile rodent models.

