Brain cells called astrocytes from a 51-year-old alcoholic patient with cirrhosis who died in a coma (hepatic encephalopathy [HE]). The image shows both normal astrocytes (N), which have dark nuclei, and Alzheimer type II astrocytes (Alz), characteristic of HE, which have pale, enlarged nuclei.

Source: Butterworth, R.F. Hepatic encephalopathy. Alcohol Research & Health 27(3):240–246, 2003.

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Prepared: February 2005