Correlative microscopy to explore the Canal of Hering

The liver is a major organ that possesses a very complex architecture. It is organized in hexagonal lobules in which hepatocytes are arranged in cords separated by adjacent sinusoids. Besides, within each cord and between apical surfaces of adjacent hepatocytes, bile canaliculi are formed and constitute a network of micrometer-sized channels. Bile is collected in bile duct thanks to connection with bile canaliculi at the periphery of the lobule. This connection, named canal of Hering, is enigmatic but should be the source of liver progenitor cells. The study of the architecture of the canal of Hering remains a challenge since it is expected to be positioned every ~10 µm along the bile duct. Our aim is to locate and reconstruct it in 3D. To reach this goal, we aim to use X-ray tomography to image large volumes at a resolution of 25 nm allowing to identify the Hering’s canal. Then, FIB-SEM data of the Hering’s canal will be acquired to reconstruct its structure at nm resolution.