Figure 1.

Expression of various molecular markers in the cell homogenate of primary SHPCs. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that numerous molecular markers were expressed in primary SHPCs undergoing proliferation in the early, middle and late stages of liver regeneration (postoperative days 4, 14 and 30, respectively). Primary SHPCs from the retrorsine-treated group within the same period (postoperative days 4, 14 and 30) were set as the controls (4C, 14C and 30C, respectively). The circled pane shows that IHH and PTCH were continuously expressed, whereas SHH was not. SHPCs, small hepatocyte-like progenitor cells; IHH, Indian hedgehog; PTCH, patched; SHH, sonic hedgehog.