feathery degeneration feathery degeneration in histopathology, feathery degeneration, formally feathery degeneration of hepatocytes, is a form of liver parenchymal cell (i.e. hepatocyte) death associated with cholestasis. feathery degeneration - large cells with pale flocculant cytoplasm (left-bottom and right-top). h&e stain. cells undergoing this form of cell death have a flocculant appearing cytoplasm, and are larger than normal hepatocytes. relation to ballooning degeneration feathery degeneration is somewhat similar in appearance to ballooning degeneration, which is due to other causes (e.g. alcohol, obesity); it also has cytoplasmic clearing and cell swelling.