Ultrastructure of alcoholic hyaline filaments in alcoholic hepatitis

Ultrastructure of alcoholic hyaline (AH) in alcoholic hepatitis was observed to demonstrate the relationship between AH filaments and intermediate filaments (IFs). Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 AH were noted in hepatocytes, and the filaments in these types of AH showed similar ultrastructural findings as already reported. Two different kinds of filaments were noted in the Type 2 AH. The large on showed 160 to 200 A in a diameter and the small one showed around 100 A in diameter. Of the 29 cases with alcoholic hepatitis, a new type of AH was noted in the rosette forming hepatocytes in 2 cases of alcoholic hepatitis. The filaments of this AH in rosette forming hepatocytes showed 40 to 60 A in diameter and shorter length compared with Type 2 AH. These filaments with 40 to 60 A diameter were quite different from IFs. Our results indicate that AH in alcoholic hepatitis is not induced by the simple accumulation of the IFs.