Immunoelectron microscopic identification of asialo GM1-positive cells in adult rat liver.

For the electron microscopic identification of asialo GM1-positive cells, fresh-frozen sections fixed with cold acetone and PLP-fixed vibratome sections of adult rat livers were prepared immunocytochemically using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Asialo GM1-positive cells were located mainly in the sinusoids, and rarely in Glisson's sheath and portal veins. In the sinusoids, most pit cells, showing the ultrastructural characteristics of large granular lymphocytes (LGL), were positive for asialo GM1 but a few pit cells were asialo GM1-negative. There were several, morphological differences between asialo GM1-positive and -negative pit cells. The asialo GM1-negative pit cells were smaller and had less-developed cell organelles and fewer dense granules, suggesting a more immature stage of development. Almost all the monocytes, segmented neutrophils and eosinophils, and small or large lymphocytes in the sinusoids also showed positive reaction for asialo GM1. In Glisson's sheath, in addition to pit cells and lymphocytes, mast cells were also positive for asialo GM1. In contrast, fixed cells such as liver parenchymal cells, endothelial cells, Kupffer cells and Ito cells within the liver lobules, as well as biliary epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and pericytes in Glisson's sheath were all negative for asialo GM1. Thus, cell surface asialo GM1 expression is not specific for pit cells (LGL) in the rat liver.