Figure 12 Effects of pioglitazone (PGZ) treatment on the distribution and quantification of α smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) positive hepatic cells during progression of hepatic fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Representative photomicrographs of α‐SMA immunostained liver sections from rats two weeks (A) or four weeks (B) after BDL, or from rats who received a PGZ supplemented diet from day 5 to day 14 post‐BDL (BDL 2 wk + PGZ) (C) or from day 14 to day 28 post BDL (BDL 4 wk + PGZ) (D). Original magnification 10×. Quantification of hepatic area occupied by α‐SMA positive cells in the different treatment groups (E). Data are expressed as the mean (SD) percentage of α‐SMA positive area related to the total area of the section for n = 4/group. **p<0.01 compared with 2 wk BDL livers similarly treated.