Fig 1. Rat models of advanced cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and renal dysfunction.

Portal pressure (PP; A), renal blood flow (RBF; B), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR; C) in 16-wk CCl₄ and olive oil (OO) control rats (n = 6–11). Representative H&E-stained kidney (scale bar 50 μm) showing minor tubular epithelial cell vacuolation (arrows) without significant necrosis after 16 wk of CCl₄ (D). PP (E), RBF (F), and GFR (G) in bile duct ligation (BDL) and sham-operated (sham) control rats (n = 4–8). Representative H&E-stained kidney (scale bar 50 μm) showing necrotic cells within the tubule lumen and loss of the normal circumferential epithelial cell population (arrows) 4 wk after BDL (H). Data presented as mean ± standard error of the mean, analyzed by one-way ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni correction (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001).