Volume 132, Issue 1, Pages 415-431 (January 2007) Proliferating Cholangiocytes: A Neuroendocrine Compartment in the Diseased Liver Domenico Alvaro, Maria Grazia Mancino, Shannon Glaser, Eugenio Gaudio, Marco Marzioni, Heather Francis, Gianfranco Alpini Gastroenterology Volume 132, Issue 1, Pages 415-431 (January 2007) DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2006.07.023 Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions
Figure 1 As shown in this rat liver cholangiogram, the intrahepatic biliary epithelium is a complex 3-dimensional network of interconnected ducts lined by cholangiocytes. The rat cholangiogram shows a portion of the intrahepatic biliary tree at the periphery of the liver. The contrast agent, renographin, was injected in a retrograde fashion into bile ducts of a normal rat liver. The image of bile ducts was obtained employing a microfocus magnification mammography instrument. Original magnification, 320×. Reproduced with permission from ref. 2. Gastroenterology 2007 132, 415-431DOI: (10.1053/j.gastro.2006.07.023) Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions
Figure 2 Liver from rats with BDL for 3 weeks. The luminal surface of bile ducts is shown, with lining cholangiocytes that are rich of microvilli and sparse, long cilia (enlarged box). (Scanning electron microscopy, original magnification, 3,500×). Gastroenterology 2007 132, 415-431DOI: (10.1053/j.gastro.2006.07.023) Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions
Figure 3 This depicts the different peptides (regulating the balance between cholangiocyte proliferation/apoptosis) secreted by proliferating cholangiocytes and their interactions with other cells. Gastroenterology 2007 132, 415-431DOI: (10.1053/j.gastro.2006.07.023) Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions
Figure 4 Schematic drawing of the growth factors, gastrointestinal hormones, and neuropeptides that affect cholangiocyte proliferation with decreases or increases with biliary ductal mass. Gastroenterology 2007 132, 415-431DOI: (10.1053/j.gastro.2006.07.023) Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions