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The Influence of Age on the Cytology of the Liver in Healthy Dogs

Department of Small Animals, University of Leipzig, Germany (CS); Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals (ET, JR); and Department of Veterinary Pathology (Tvdl), Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Abstract

Liver cytology was evaluated in 28 healthy dogs 1–14 years of age with normal liver structure and function. Smears were stained with May–Grünwald–Giemsa. Hepatocytes had distinct cell borders, and cells did not overlap. Cells with two nuclei and cells with intranuclear crystalloid structures were observed regularly. Cytoplasm contained small numbers of vacuoles characteristic of glycogen and lipid and small amounts of pigment consistent with ceroid or bile. Nuclei were uniform. Small numbers of biliary epithelial cells were seen in most samples. Lymphocytes and neutrophils occurred in small numbers, with lipocytes, mast cells, fibrocytes, mesothelial cells, eosinophils, and Kupffer macrophages seen less frequently. Mean parenchymal cell sizes were significantly greater in older dogs, but no age-related differences were observed in nuclear size. Older dogs also had a significantly increased number of nuclei per cell. There were more neutrophils in young and old dogs than in middle-aged dogs.

Key words: Age influence; healthy dogs; liver cytology; reference parameters.

Request reprints from Dr. C. Stockhaus, Klinik für Kleintiere, Universitat Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 23, 04103 Leipzig (Germany).

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				C. Stockhaus, T. van den Ingh, J. Rothuizen, and E. Teske A Multistep Approach in the Cytologic Evaluation of Liver Biopsy Samples of Dogs with Hepatic Diseases Vet. Pathol., September 1, 2004; 41(5): 461 - 470. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]