Transient expression of bile-duct-specific cytokeratin in fetal mouse hepatocytes.
The differentiation of hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells has been histochemically analyzed with anti-calf cytokeratin antiserum in the fetal mouse liver. Almost all young fetal hepatocytes transiently express bile-duct-specific cytokeratin; subsequently, the strong staining of the cytokeratin is confined to progenitor cells of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells around portal veins. These results suggest that all fetal hepatocytes are bi-potent in terms of the differentiation of mature hepatocytes and intrahepatic bile-duct cells, and that the microenvironment around portal veins plays an important role in bile-duct differentiation. Large periportal hepatocytes continue to stain weakly for cytokeratin until 2 weeks after birth, although the number of positive hepatocytes decreases with development. The differentiation of bile ducts from periportal hepatocytes may continue for 2 weeks after birth.
Shiojiri
N
N
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, Japan.
D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000196:embryology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011169:Portal Vein; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D000418:Albumins; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007633:Keratins