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Transient expression of bile-duct-specific cytokeratin in fetal mouse hepatocytes

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Abstract

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.

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  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, 422, Shizuoka, Japan

    Nobuyoshi Shiojiri

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  1. Nobuyoshi Shiojiri
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Shiojiri, N. Transient expression of bile-duct-specific cytokeratin in fetal mouse hepatocytes. Cell Tissue Res 278, 117–123 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305783

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305783

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