Figure 3

HBsAg and HBcAg immunohistochemistry. A. HBsAg in liver tumor and tumor-surrounding tissues. HBsAg-positive hepatocytes distributed sporadically or diffusely in the tumor-surrounding tissue (left area). On the contrary, HBsAg-positive cells were rarely seen inside the tumor (right area). Tumor and tumor-surrounding tissues of 98–2, immunohistochemical staining for HBsAg, 100×. B. HBcAg in liver tumor and tumor-surrounding tissues. HBcAg-positive hepatocytes distributed sporadically or diffusely in the tumor-surrounding tissue (right area). On the contrary, the HBcAg-positive cell was not observed inside the tumor (left area). Tumor and tumor-surrounding tissues of 121–1, immunohistochemical staining for HBcAg, 200×. C. HBsAg in biopsies collected before occurrence of liver tumor. HBsAg appeared in the cytoplasm of some hepatocytes. A liver biopsy specimen of 121–1 at the 221st week after inoculation, immunohistochemical staining for HBsAg, 200×. D. HBcAg in biopsies collected before occurrence of liver tumor. HBcAg appeared in the nucleus of some hepatocytes. A liver biopsy specimen of 121–1 at the 221st week after inoculation, immunohistochemical staining for HBcAg, 200×. E. HBsAg in the biopsies of animals in group B. No HBsAg-positive hepatocyte was found in the liver biopsies from animals in group B. A liver biopsy specimen of 108–4 at the 311th week after inoculation, immunohistochemical staining for HBsAg, 100×. F. HBcAg in the biopsies of animals in group B. No HBcAg-positive hepatocyte was found in the liver biopsies from animals in group B. A liver biopsy specimen of 108–4 at the 311th week after inoculation, immunohistochemical staining for HBcAg, 100×.