[Cell cultures of the epithelium of the bile ducts: a possible model for the study of atresia of the bile ducts].

The pathogenic mechanism of biliary atresia is still unknown. Assuming that primary lesion is localized at the epithelial layer of the biliary ducts, authors describe a technique of culturing biliary duct cells in monolayer fashion. Light and electron microscopy demonstrate the epithelial origin of the cultured cells. These cells can be used to test some of the pathogenic theories in vitro hitherto proposed.