Figure 4.

Arkadia expression in rats with CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis. Following sacrifice, the expression levels of Arkadia in the liver samples were determined by RT-qPCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Results are presented as representative images or are expressed as the means ± standard deviation of individual groups (n=6/group). (A) Immunohistochemical staining of Arkadia expression in the liver sections (original magnification, ×100). (a) control; (b) CCl₄ 2 weeks; (c) CCl₄ 4 weeks; (d) CCl₄ 6 weeks and (e) CCl₄ 8 weeks. (B) RT-qPCR analysis of Arkadia mRNA transcript levels in the liver samples. (C) Relative protein expression levels of Arkadia. (D) Western blot analysis of Arkadia protein. Lane 1, control; lane 2, CCl₄ 2 weeks; lane 3, CCl₄ 4 weeks; lane 4, CCl₄ 6 weeks and lane 5, CCl₄ 8 weeks. ^*P<0.05, ^**P<0.01 vs. the control group. CCl₄, carbon tetrachloride; RT-qPCR, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.