Effect of CCl4 challenge on liver fibrosis in Fibγ390-396A mice. WT and Fibγ390-396A mice were exposed to vehicle (corn oil) (left) or CCl4 (10% at 10 μL/g, IP) (right) for 4 and 8 weeks as described in “Methods.” (A) Representative photomicrographs (×200) show liver sections stained for fibrin(ogen) (brown) in CCl4-treated WT mice after 8 weeks. Arrowhead indicates fibrin(ogen) deposition resembling borders of hepatic acinus. (B) Serum ALT activity was determined as described in “Methods.” Hepatic expression of mRNAs encoding the profibrogenic genes: (C) COL1A1, (D) TGFβ1, (E) TGFβ2, and (F) ITGβ6 was determined by real-time qPCR. (G) Representative photomicrographs show liver sections stained for sirius red (×200). Arrows indicate collagen deposition resembling borders of hepatic acinus. (H) Sirius red staining was quantified as described in “Methods.” Gray bars indicate WT and black bars indicate Fibγ390-396A mice. Mice treated with vehicle (n = 4 to 5 mice per group) and mice treated with CCl4 (n = 9 to 10 mice per group). *P < .05 vs vehicle within genotype. IP, intraperitoneal; Wks, weeks.
