Liver stem cells are hypothesized to inhabit the canals.

[3][4] Histologically, the cells of the ductule are described as simple cuboidal epithelium, lined partially by cholangiocytes and hepatocytes.

They may not be readily visible but can be differentially stained by cytokeratins CK19 and CK7.

The canals of Hering are destroyed early in primary biliary cholangitis and may be primary sites of scarring in methotrexate toxicity.

[5] Liver stem cells are theorized to originate in the niches of the canals.