Role of Kraevsky cells in forensic histological diagnostics

Abstract

The study objective is to establish the role of light hepatocytes (Kraevsky cells) for forensic histological diagnosis of glycogen depletion in the liver due to various conditions, including shock. A standard histological examination of liver samples of persons who died from various causes was performed; routine staining with hematoxylin and eosin and additional staining by the PAS method was used. Histotopographic comparison of cross sections was performed to clarify the localization of light hepatocytes with different PAS staining results. It was shown that light hepatocytes have different morphological features, localization, and results of PAS staining, regardless of the cause of death, and are not related to glycogen depletion in them. Light hepatocytes (Kraevski cells) cannot be used as a sign of glycogen depletion and/or shock.