Aspects of the fine structure of the intrahepatic bile duct epithelium in normal and cholecystectomized mice

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Abstract
The epithelium lining the intrahepatic bile ducts of normal adult mice consists of a single layer of cuboidal or low columnar cells and has ultrastructure comparable to that described previously (Rouiller and Jézéquel, '65). Some of the epithelial cells, however, exhibit such particular features as dilatation of granular endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, polysome formation of ribosomes and the presence of active forms of the Golgi apparatus, numerous lysosome‐like bodies and apical projections and blebs. Postnatal cholecystectomy does not induce any qualitative changes in the epithelial fine structure, but results in a significant increase in number of the particular structures mentioned. Therefore, the cholecystectomy is thought to stimulate the secretory activity of the epithelial cells, and such stimulation appears due to the absence of a possible activity of epithelial secretion in the gallbladder.