[Peculiar aspects of viral type particles ("viroplasms") in hepatocytes in hepatitis with Australia antigen].

: Electron microscope studies of liver biopsies in 32 cases of hepatitis with Australia antigen (aggressive chronic hepatitis, polyarteritis, hepatitis on alcoholic cirrhosis and in kidney transplants) showed original intranuclear formations. They are different from the usual viral type particles connected with Australia antigen and appear to be formed of dense, granulofilamentous accumulations, scattered at random in the nucleus, sometimes in close proximity of nucleoles and nuclear bodies. Within these accumulations outlines of complete or partial rounded particles have been observed the morphology of which resembled that of the usual intranuclear particles. Comparison with former descriptions of the chronological aspects of viral replication allowed the author to refer to these formations by the term of "viroplasms". Thus, they are considered representative of an intermediate stage in the formation of the nuclear particles. This interpretation would add an argument to the notion of nuclear replication of the particles related to Australia antigen.