Fatty liver. Light micrograph of a section through the liver of an alcoholic showing fat deposits. The liver cells (purple with dark nuclei) have been distended by large fat droplets. The fat was destroyed in the preparation of the slide leaving unstained areas or vacuoles (white circles). This condition occurs in most heavy drinkers, and severely impairs the liver's function. It is caused by continually high levels of alcohol in the blood disturbing normal fat metabolism. Fatty deposits in the liver can also be caused by hypoxia, toxins or diabetes mellitus. Magnification: x100 at 35mm size.