Fig. 5.

Altered lumen expansion in the Nf2^cKO liver. (A) Representative confocal images of similarly sized NHERF1⁺ lumens in E16.0 control and Nf2^cKO livers. (B) Frequency of each IHBD stage (from Fig. 3) in control and Nf2^cKO livers of various ages. Sample size (control, Nf2^cKO): E15.5 (5, 9), E16.5 (3, 4), E18.5 (4, 3), P2 (6, 4). (C) Quantitation of NHERF1⁺ lumen surface in control and Nf2^cKO livers at E15.5-E16.5. PS, portal space. n.s., not statistically significant; *P<0.05 (Student's unpaired t-test). Each data point represents one lumen surface. Sample size (control, Nf2^cKO): E15.5-E16.0 (4, 3), E16.5 (5, 3). (D) Variation of apical width [ratio of apical (yellow dotted line in representative confocal images) to basal (blue dotted line) width] in control and Nf2^cKO P2 livers. **P<0.01 (Mann–Whitney test). Each data point represents an individual cell. Sample size (control, Nf2^cKO): P2 (4, 3). (E) Luminal opening in E16.5-E18.5 livers measured as the maximal distance between the apical surface of the ductal plate cell and that of overlying parenchymal cells (lumen diameter, left) as shown (arrow) on representative confocal images (right). *P<0.05 (Student's unpaired t-test). Each data point represents an individual lumen. Sample size (control, Nf2^cKO): E16.5 (4, 3), E18.5 (5, 3). (F) Representative confocal images depicting the relationship between moesin⁺ lumen and Sox9⁺ cells in biliary structures from control (top left) and Nf2^cKO (top right and bottom) P9 livers. Arrowheads indicate moesin⁺ lumen extending into the parenchyma in Nf2^cKO. Asterisks, portal vein. Values shown are mean±s.e.m. Scale bars: 10 µm in D,E; 20 µm in A,F.