A study of bile canalicular contractions in isolated hepatocytes
M. James Phillips, Chikara Oshio, Mamoru Miyairi, Hart Katz, Charles R. Smith – 1 November 1982 – Living hepatocytes observed under standard methods of cell isolation and culture show frequent active contractions of bile canaliculi when viewed by time‐lapse cinephotomicrography. This report gives details of the methods used to show the contractions. In addition, the characteristics of the contraction pattern are defined and analyzed. The contractions are regular, canalicular contraction time (systole) lasts 60 sec, and the most probable interval between contractions is 5 1/2 min.