Figure 2. Effects of BCAA on DEN-induced liver fibrosis.

Paraffin-embedded sections were stained with Masson’s trichrome to evaluate the progression of fibrosis after 14 and 16 weeks of DEN administration (A–F, original magnification ×5 and ×50). Index of fibrosis (G). The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) protein in livers was evaluated by Western blot analysis at 16 weeks post-DEN injection (H). An anti-β-actin antibody served as the loading control. Values shown are means ± standard deviation (n = 5/group). *P<0.05. Relative fibrosis area: rMA = (MA/FA)×100. FA, overall field area (mm²); MA, overall mask area (mm²), which is the summed areas for each detected object in each layer.