Figure 5.

Biliary cells in small-for-size fatty graft showed collagen-producing capacity. Prominent expression of Pro-collagen I alpha 1 mRNA was identified in the biliary cells of small-for-size fatty grafts (A, upper panels and lower left panel; green color, CK19; red color, pro-collagen I α 1) (In situ hybridization, day 14). In contrast, signals of procollagen I α 1 were not detectable in the whole normal grafts (A, lower right panel). Masson's trichrome staining revealed collagen deposition (B, upper panel, arrows) surrounding the proliferative ductules of small-for-size fatty grafts (outlined by dashed lines, day 14).