Fig. 3.

Changes in nonparenchymal cells after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). A: expansion of hepatic stellate cells after I/R. Hepatic stellate cells in the liver were identified by staining with desmin. Stellate cells accumulated at the border of necrotic areas after I/R in control livers. In fibrotic liver, stellate cells were observed along the fibrotic septa before operation. Increased numbers of stellate cells could be seen along the areas of bridging fibrosis at 48 h after I/R, and stellate cells were observed in all areas of liver injury at 96 h. The percentage of desmin-positive area was significantly higher in fibrotic liver than in control liver. Original magnification is ×200. Data are expressed as means ± SE with n = 4 mice per group. *P < 0.05 compared with control. B: expansion of hepatic progenitor cells after I/R. Hepatic progenitor cells in the liver were identified by staining liver sections with CK7. Although CK7-positive progenitor cells/reactive ductules, which were observed singly or in irregular strings without lumens, were seen around the portal veins at the boundary of necrotic areas in control liver, extensive distribution of CK7-positive progenitor cells/reactive ductules were observed in the large areas of nonparenchymal cells after I/R in fibrotic liver. The number of hepatic progenitor cells was significantly increased after I/R in control liver, and fibrotic liver had significantly more hepatic progenitor cells than control liver. Original magnification is ×200. Data are expressed as means ± SE with n = 4 mice per group. *P < 0.05 compared with before operation. #P < 0.05 compared with control. C: no change in neutrophil accumulation. Neutrophils were identified by staining liver sections for Ly6G. The number of neutrophils were not different between control and fibrotic liver groups. Data are expressed as means ± SE with n = 4 mice per group.