T. Clark Brelje, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
6-160 Jackson Hall
321 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Robert L. Sorenson, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
6-160 Jackson Hall
321 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
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The liver is composed primarily of hepatocytes. They store large quantities of glucose (as glycogen) after a meal and release it when fasting. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent can be used to demonstrate the amount of glucose stored as glycogen. Examine the staining of individual hepatocytes from this fasted animal.
PAS staining appears as scattered red to magenta particles in the cytoplasm.
The intensity of staining varies between cells from light to no staining.
Nuclei are dark blue to purple because the section was counter stained with hematoxylin.
Liver (Feed)
This liver is from a fed animal. At higher magnification, examine the staining of individual hepatocytes.
PAS staining appears as course magenta-colored particules throughout the cytoplasm of most cells.
Almost all the cells are intensely stained.
Nuclei are dark blue to purple because the section was counter stained with hematoxylin.
This indicates that the hepatocytes of a fed animal contain considerably more glycogen than a fasted animal.