Widespread presence of cytoplasmic HBcAg in hepatitis B infected liver detected by improved immunochemical methods.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Cytolasmic and cell membrane associated hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) were more widespread within infected liver using indirect immunofluorescence on frozen sections than with the widely used direct immunofluoresence method. Fixation of frozen sections with carbon tetrachloride improved tissue histology without reducing the sensitivity of antigen detection. In tissue blocks fixed with formalin or ethanol-acetic acid, detection of HBcAg was reduced in comparison with frozen sections and many cells containing low concentrations of (usually cytoplasmic and membranous) HBcAg were not identified even using immunofluorescence or peroxidase-antiperoxidase reactions. In contrast, intracellular hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was well detected in fixed sections, but membrane associated HBsAg was not detectable after fixation.

This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit: