NAFLD activity scores (NAS) of rats with hepatic branch of vagotomy on CDAA diet-induced NASH model.

<p>NAFLD activity scores (NAS) of rats with hepatic branch of vagotomy on CDAA diet-induced NASH model.</p

Taqman probe ID for real time PCR.

<p>Taqman probe ID for real time PCR.</p

Representative photomicrographs showing the effects of CSAA and CDAA diet on liver histology in rats.

<p>Frozen liver tissues were stained with Oil Red O (A). Rats were fed CSAA diet and CDAA diet, co-administered with saline, or CSAA diet and CDAA diet, co-administered with nicotine, for 6 weeks. Original magnification, ×200. Quantitative analysis of changes in Oil Red O positive areas in respective groups (B). Data are expressed as means ± SE of six to eight rats. (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 compared with the respective group).</p

Representative photomicrographs showing the effects of hepatic branch vagotomy and sham operation on CDAA-diet-induced hepatic steatosis in rats.

<p>Frozen liver sections were stained with Oil Red O (A). Quantitative analysis of changes in Oil Red O positive lesions in the respective groups (B). Original magnification, ×100. Data are expressed as means ± SE of six rats. (^a p < 0.05 compared with the respective groups).</p

Evaluation of liver fibrosis-related parameters in CSAA- and CDAA-diet-fed rats.

<p>Representative photomicrographs showing the fibrosis of CSAA and CDAA diet on liver histology in rats. Liver tissues were stained with Masson’s trichrome staining. Rats were fed CSAA diet and CDAA diet, co-administered with saline, or CSAA diet and CDAA diet, co-administered with nicotine, for 6 weeks. Arrows indicate the hepatic fibrosis in the liver. Original magnification, ×100 (A). Quantitative analysis of changes in the Masson’s trichrome staining blue colored area in the respective groups (B). The expression of <i>Acta2</i> was normalized to that of 18s ribosomal RNA in each sample, and expressed as the magnitude of change relative to gene expression after 6 weeks of feeding CSAA diet co-administered with saline (C). Evaluation of immunohistochemical staining of hepatic αSMA-positive cells in CSAA- and CDAA-diet-fed rats co-administered the saline control or nicotine for 6 weeks. Arrows indicate αSMA-positive cells (D). Quantitative analysis of changes in the numbers of αSMA-positive cells in the respective groups (E). Data are expressed as means ± SE of six to eight rats. (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 compared with the respective groups).</p

Evaluation of hepatic lipid metabolism-related gene expressions in CSAA- and CDAA- diet-fed rats.

<p>The relative mRNA expression of <i>apoB</i> (A), <i>MTTP</i> (B), <i>SREBP1</i> (C), <i>Elovl6</i> (D) and <i>ACOX1</i> (E) were evaluated 6 weeks after the commencement of CSAA and CDAA diets. The expression of target genes was normalized to that of 18s ribosomal RNA in each sample, and expressed as the magnitude of change relative to gene expression after 6 weeks of feeding CSAA diet co-administered with saline. The values are means ± SE of six to eight rats. Statistically significant differences between the respective groups are indicated as * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01.</p

Representative images of the liver stained with hematoxylin-eosin.

<p>Mice were fed with a methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS) (A), methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) (B), or MCD with conophylline (CnP) (C) diet. Original magnification, ×100.</p

Clinical characteristics of rats after 6 weeks feeding of experimental diets.

<p>Clinical characteristics of rats after 6 weeks feeding of experimental diets.</p

Representative images of liver stained with Oil Red O.

<p>Mice were fed with a methionine-choline-sufficient MCS (A), methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) (B), or MCD with conophylline (CnP) diet (C). (D) Quantitative analysis of changes in Oil Red O-positive area in the respective groups. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, and data are expressed as means ± SE (^a P < 0.05 MCD diet compared to MCS diet, ^b P < 0.05 MCD diet with CnP compared to MCD diet). Original magnification, ×200.</p

NAFLD activity scores (NAS) of rats fed experimental diets with nicotine.

<p>NAFLD activity scores (NAS) of rats fed experimental diets with nicotine.</p