Structure and thickness of Glisson's capsule differ considerably on the liver surface in mammalian species

Glisson's sheath is the connective tissue ensheathing the portal vein, hepatic artery, and bile duct within the liver. Although the connective tissue surrounding the liver surface is known as Glisson's capsule, its structure and function are poorly understood. In the present study, we analyzed mouse, rat, rabbit, feline, canine, monkey, porcine, bovine, and equine livers by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry analysis of α-smooth muscle actin, keratin 19, and podoplanin and examined how the structure of the Glisson's capsule is conserved and differs among the nine species. Glisson's capsule tended to thicken as the animal's body size increased. Among the nine mammalian species, bile ducts were observed adjacent to the connective tissue of Glisson's capsule in adult monkey, porcine, bovine, and equine livers without association with portal veins. Fetal monkey and porcine livers exhibited thin Glisson's capsules without bile duct development. The hepatic artery develops in the Glisson's capsule in adult canine, monkey, porcine, bovine, and equine livers without association with the bile ducts and portal veins. Similar to the human liver, the livers of adult monkeys develop lymphatic vessels beneath the liver surface. The present study reveals for the first time that the structure of the Glisson's capsule differs considerably between small (mouse, rat, rabbit, and cat) and large (monkey, pig, cattle, and horse) animals and that the dog exhibits an intermediate structure between the two groups.