[The expression of desmin and cytokeratins No. 8 and 18 in the nonhematopoietic cells of the rat liver].

During prenatal ontogenesis of mammals, liver plays a role as the hemopoietic organ. We have studied the distribution of hepatocytes (antigenic markers--cytokeratins No 8 and 18) and Ito cells (antigenic marker--desmin) in the liver and the interaction of these two cell classes with hemopoietic cells. At days 14 and 15 of embryonic development, nonhemopoietic liver cells had many processes, expressed desmin and were stained with antibodies against cytokeratins No 8 and 18.