Fig. 4. Mdivi-1 attenuated CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis and inhibited mitochondrial fission.

A–C Histological analyses and measured α-Sma expression. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, with n = 7–10/group. Ordinary one-way ANOVA with Turkey’s multiple comparisons test. D, E Relative mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and IL-6 detected by qRT-PCR and normalized to Rps18. Ordinary one-way ANOVA with Turkey’s multiple comparisons test. F, G Immunoblotting and statistical analysis of mitochondrial Drp1 in liver tissues (n = 3–4/group). Ordinary one-way ANOVA with Turkey’s multiple comparisons test. H Quantification and representative transmission electron microscopy images of the mitochondrial dynamics in the livers. Mitochondria are indicated by arrows. Scale bar, 5 μm. Mitochondrial number n = 103–144/group. Ordinary one-way ANOVA with Turkey’s multiple comparisons test. I Apoptosis of activated HSCs detected by co-staining with α-Sma (green), TUNEL (red) and DAPI (blue). α-Sma-positive cells represent activated HSCs. During the TUNEL assay and DAPI staining, apoptotic cells are shown in pink. Arrows point to apoptotic HSCs. J Gfap (red) was used as an HSC marker to mark both quiescent and active HSCs. The Mdivi-1-treated groups exhibited a fewer number of Gfap-positive cells. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001 vs. the olive oil group; ^#P < 0.05; ^##P < 0.01; ^###P < 0.001; ^####P < 0.0001 vs. the CCl₄ group; ^$$P < 0.01 vs. the Mdivi-1 (25 mg/kg) group.