Contractility of bile canaliculi: implications for liver function.
Dynamic contractions of bile canaliculi were observed in groups of cultured hepatocytes by time-lapse cinephotomicrography during the early stages of monolayer formation. The contractions, which were forceful and appeared to have a pumping action, may facilitate the flow of bile in the liver's canalicular system.
D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D051381:Rats