The Protective Effect of Glycyrrhetinic Acid on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Chronic Liver Fibrosis in Mice via Upregulation of Nrf2
Figure 5
Effects of GA on histopathological changes by CCl4 in mice were evaluated in sections stained with Masson.
Mice in all groups were treated as the same with the front method. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last CCl4 administration and the liver was removed, fixed and embedded in paraffin. Sections were stained with Masson (200×). (A) Liver tissue of a control mouse. (B) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with CCl4, presenting severe liver fibrosis (arrow 1) and ballooning degeneration (arrow 2) aroud the portal vein. (C) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with silymarin (100 mg/kg, i.g.), presenting well-developed septa, showing moderate liver fibrosis (arrow 1) and hepatocyte necrosis with inflammatory cell (arrow 2) infiltration around the portal vein. (D) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with GA (25 mg/kg, i.g.), presenting slender septa linking hepatic veins, showing mild liver fibrosis (arrow 1) and severe sreatosis (arrow 2). (E) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with GA (50 mg/kg, i.g.), presenting slender septa, showing mild fibrosis (arrow 1) and sreatosis (arrow 2) around centrilobular and midzone region. (F) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with GA (100 mg/kg, i.g.), showing severe fibrosis (arrow 1) and sreatosis (arrow 2). Arrows show collagen fibers, which were stained blue (Masson trichrome staining).