[Occurrence of goblet cells in the human extrahepatic bile duct epithelium in the fetus and newborn infant].

The development of several cell types was studied in human extrahepatic bile ducts of 5 fetuses, 11 newborn infants (gestational age of 28 to 41 weeks), and 3 children younger than 6 years by means of histological and histochemical staining reactions. Barrel-shaped columnar cells and rod-shaped cells in the mucosa are well described in the literature. Goblet cells are only known at the region of the ampulla of Vater. In our study, goblet cells were found in all cases of newborn infants older than 28 gestational weeks. The cytoplasm of the goblet cells contains a mixture of neutral, carboxylated, and sulphated mucopolysaccharides. The physiological importance of the goblet cells is discussed. Parallels to the development and pathology of gall bladder epithelium are elucidated.