To learn more of the nature and origin of alcoholic hyalin (AH), 15 liver biopsy specimens from patients with alcoholic hepatitis were studied in detail.AH was found not only in hepatocytes but also in ductular cells (Figs. 1 and 2), although in the latter location only rarely. The bulk of AH consisted of a randomly oriented network of closely packed filaments measuring about 150 Å in width. Bundles of filaments smaller in diameter (40-90 Å) were observed along the periphery of the main mass (Fig. 1), often surrounding it in a rim-like fashion. Fine filaments were also found close to the nucleus in both hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells, the latter even though characteristic AH was not present (Figs. 3 and 4). Dispersed among the larger filaments were glycogen, RNA particles and profiles of endoplasmic reticulum. Dilated cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum were often conspicuous around the periphery of the AH mass. A limiting membrane was not observed.
