Fig. 6. The Hnf1ß mutation affects intrahepatic bile duct development. Immunostaining for cytokeratin (CK) on control (CO) and mutant (M) liver sections. (A-D) E17.5 fetuses. (A,B) Control livers show a well-formed and stained ductal plate, and some bile ducts that are beginning to differentiate (arrows). (C,D) Mutant livers show disorganized ductal plate with irregular duct-like structures not completely surrounded by CK-positive cells (arrowheads). (E-H) P8 livers. (E) Differentiated bile ducts are seen on control mice. Some remnants of the ductal plate are still visible (arrowhead). (F-H) Mutants show no or very few CK-positive cells (arrowhead) (F), ductal plate remnants and abnormal CK-positive structures within the portal mesenchyme (G), or abnormal bile ducts (H). hp, hepatic parenchyma; pv, portal vein; pm, portal mesenchyme; dp, ductal plate; bd, bile ducts. Scale bars: 50 µm.
