Figure 2

Fuzheng Huayu recipe (FZHY) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) improves hepatic fibrosis. Mice were respectively treated orally with FZHY (4.0 g/kg) or NAC (0.1 g/kg) daily for 3 d before CCl₄ treatment. Then, mice were injected at 8 weeks of age with 100% CCl₄ 3 ml/kg body weight for the first time, then 50% CCl₄ /olive oil 3 ml/kg body weight, two times per week for 8 weeks to develop hepatic fibrosis (A). Liver sections were subjected to either hematoxylin-eosin staining to detect inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis (B, × 100) or to the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay to detect cell apoptosis (C, × 200) or to immunohistochemical staining for α-SMA for detection of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) (D, × 200) or to Sirius Red staining for detection collagen deposition (E, × 200). (F) Serum ALT and AST levels and Alb content in the four groups (Control, n = 10; CCl₄ treated, n = 11; FZHY treated, n = 11; NAC treated, n = 12). (G) Hepatic Hyp content was determined using Jamall’s method. The Hyp content was increased significantly in CCl₄ treated group compared with the control group. FZHY or NAC treatment significantly decreased liver Hyp content. ^** P < 0.01 vs. control group; ^## P < 0.01 vs. model.