The functional significance of bile canalicular nucleosidephosphatase activity

Summary The histochemically demonstrable bile canalicular nucleosidephosphatase activity of the developing chicken and rat liver has been studied and correlated to the structural and functional maturation.It is concluded that the factor responsible for this activity is not bound to the bile canaliculi as anatomical structures per se. Neither does it play an active role in bile secretion but appears to be a plasma ingredient excreted in the bile.It is suggested that the transitional localization of this activity to different parts of the functional liver unit reflects the morphological route of bile secretion.This study was supported in part by a grant from the Swedish Medical Research Council