Table 1 Variations between mouse and human hepatocytes and associated liver architecture

From: Exploiting in silico modelling to enhance translation of liver cell therapies from bench to bedside

Liver/hepatocyte characteristic/feature

Mouse

Human

Mean cell diameter (µm)a

21 µm (60–75% of cells), 16 µm (5–15% of cells), 27 µm (15–25% of cells) (n = 6 independent experiments)

14–25 µm (n = 50 different batches)

Mean volume of cell (µm3)b

Mononucleated

Binucleated

3000, n = 7 cells

2 populations:−3126 ± 1302 (~14% of cells) & 5313 ± 1175 (~10% of cells)

2 populations:-

5678 ± 1176 (~45% of cells) and 10606 ± 1532 (~30% of cells)

Mean distance of portocentral axis (µm)c

211 (n = 8 mice)

385 (N = 2 independent livers)

Average diameter of sinusoidal fenestraed

141 ± 5.4 nm, N = 4 livers, n = 530 ± 79 fenestrae measured per liver

107 ± 1.5 nm, N = 6 donors measured, 528 ± 142, fenestrae measured per 1cm3 biopsy

Portal vein diameter (d) and length (l)e

0.5–1 mm (d) and 5 mm–1 cm (l)

11–13 mm (d) and 7–8 cm (l)

Splenic vein diameter (mm)e

0.3–0.5

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  1. aMeasurements performed on isolated cells in suspension using an electronic analysis machine (129SvJ mice) or an image cytometer (human cells, both fresh and cryopreserved)39,40.
  2. bFor mouse cells analysis performed on 2559 hepatocytes within fixed tissue, n = 3 mice (strain not specified)38. For humans analysis based on protein content calculation of mononuclear cells36,37.
  3. cMouse: 6 images taken and 300 fields of view analysed to produce measurements)83, human: image analysis of paraffin fixed tissue samples, range 171–625, n > 325 measurements per liver)84.
  4. dHuman biopsies obtained from the distal rim of the left lobe of donors without signs of primary or secondary liver disease undergoing elective laparascopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal). Diameter is statistically significantly smaller than C57BL/6 mice p < 0.0144,45.
  5. eVascular length and diameter measurements from refs. 85,86.
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