The origin of bile ductular-like structures after transplantation of regenerating hepatocytes into the spleen of syngeneic rats.

Normal and 24-h regenerating hepatocytes were transplanted into the spleen of 70% partially hepatectomized, syngeneic rats, which were sacrificed after 2, 4, 6, 10, and 12 months from the transplant. Altogether 50 rats served as recipients. Histological examination of splenic sections showed a small number of surviving hepatocytes both in normal hepatocytes recipients and in the regenerating hepatocytes recipients. In the latter group marked bile ductular proliferation was present from 4 to 12 months after transplantation. This experimental evidence supports the theory that intrahepatic bile duct cells can originate from hepatocytes.