Figure 5.
SOX9 controls the timing of bile duct development. (A) SOX9-deficient livers showed delayed onset of OPN expression, and (B) persistence of asymmetrical PDS until e18.5 (Ecad/HNF4 and Muc1/AcTub/Lam stainings). (A) After birth, the SOX9-deficient ducts bile ducts were adjacent to the parenchyme, while wild-type embryos were surrounded by periportal mesenchyme. (B) At five weeks of age SOX9-deficient and wild-type mice had normal bile ducts, surrounded by periportal mesenchyme (αSMA/CK stainings). pv, portal vein; *, lumens of developing bile ducts.