Hepatobiliary System

Liver, Kupffer Cell - Hyperplasia

Narrative
Comment:
Kupffer cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia usually occur together and can be seen following uptake of foreign material, test agent, or metabolite, any of which may impart a pigment to the cytoplasm. Kupffer hyperplasia and hypertrophy may also occur in inflammatory conditions. The enlarged Kupffer cells may form sheets or small nodules.
Recommendations:
This tissue change is rare in untreated rodents and should be diagnosed and graded whenever present. A description of the morphologic features and tissue distribution should be detailed in the pathology narrative. Because hypertrophy is a consequence of the phagocytic activity of these cells, a separate diagnosis of hypertrophy is generally not necessary. If pigmentation is prominent, a separate diagnosis of pigmentation, along with a qualitative grading of severity, may be appropriate.
References:

Harada T, Enomoto A, Boorman GA, Maronpot RR. 1999. Liver and gallbladder. In: Pathology of the Mouse: Reference and Atlas (Maronpot RR, Boorman GA, Gaul BW, eds). Cache River Press, Vienna, IL, 119-183.

Abstract: http://www.cacheriverpress.com/books/pathmouse.htm

National Toxicology Program. 1994. NTP TR-435. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of 4,4'-Thiobis(6-t-butyl-m-cresol) (CAS No. 96-69-5) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Feed Studies). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Full Text: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/lt_rpts/tr435.pdf

Thoolen B, Maronpot RR, Harada T, Nyska A, Rousseaux C, Nolte T, Malarkey D, Kaufmann W, Kutter K, Deschl U, Nakae D, Gregson R, Winlove M, Brix A, Singl B, Belpoggi F, Ward JM. 2010. Hepatobiliary lesion nomenclature and diagnostic criteria for lesions in rats and mice (INHAND). Toxicol Pathol 38:5S-81S.

Full Text: http://tpx.sagepub.com/content/38/7_suppl/5S.full
  • Image of Kupffer cell hyperplasia in the liver from a female F344/N rat in a subchronic study

    Kupffer cell hyperplasia in a female F344/N rat from a subchronic study.

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Kupffer cell hyperplasia in a female F344/N rat from a subchronic study.
Kupffer cell hyperplasia in a female F344/N rat from a subchronic study.

Author

Robert R. Maronpot, DVM, MS, MPH, DACVP, DABT, FIATP
Senior Pathologist
Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC

Reviewers

John Cullen, VMD, PhD, DACVP, FIATP
Anatomic Pathology, Professor
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Raleigh, NC

David E. Malarkey DVM, PhD, DACVP, FIATP
Head, National Toxicology Program Pathology Group
Cellular and Molecular Pathology Branch
Division of the National Toxicology Program
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Research Triangle Park, NC