Activation, proliferation, and differentiation of a distinct phenotype of cells, called oval cells,
are observed after severe hepatic injuries in which the proliferation of existing hepatocytes is
inhibited. Under those conditions, oval cells can act as bipotential progenitors of the two
types of epithelial cells within the liver, hepatocytes and bile ductular cells. Oval cells are
also believed to play a role in the hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma
development; although circumstantial data are available, no direct evidence exists to …