Alterations of mast cells and TGF-β1 on the silymarin treatment for CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis

Figure 5 Toluidine blue-stained liver tissue of only CCl₄- or CCl₄ with silymarin-treated groups. In only CCl₄-treated group - A: At 4 wk, specific toluidine blue-stained mast cells (arrowhead) were detected in periportal region; B: At 8 wk, the number of mast cell increased; C: At 12 wk, mast cells increased along the thick collagenous septa. In CCl₄ with silymarin-treated group - D: Positive reaction for toluidine blue (arrowhead) was slightly detected at 4 wk; E: At 8 wk, α-SMA-positive cells were lower than that of CCl₄-only-treated group; F: At 12 wk, positive expression of α-SMA was shown in the same pattern as with the result of CCl₄-treated group at 8 wk. Toluidine blue stain, A-F. Original magnification: ×132, A-F.