2.2 Mouse model of CCl4‐induced hepatic
fibrosis
Forty mice were also assigned into five groups (control,
CCl4‐corn oil, and CCl4‐PB groups)
followed by a randomization procedure (http://www.randomizer.org/,
Research Randomizer, RRID:SCR_008563), with eight animals per group. A
mouse model of liver fibrosis was established by intraperitoneally
injecting of 10% CCl4 mixed with oil for 4 weeks
(0.25mL/kg body weight, thrice a week). Thirty-two mice were randomly
divided into four groups (n = 8 mice per group): the model group
(received only the CCl4‐corn oil injection) and the
PB‐treated group (received the CCl4 injection and a
concurrent 1, 2.5, 5mg·kg−1 PB intraperitoneal injection every other day
began during the CCl4 treatment). The control group (n =
8) was intraperitoneally injected with corn oil alone for 8 weeks. The
vehicle group (n = 8) was intraperitoneal injection with 2% DMSO as
the. Blood samples (200 μl) were collected from the retro‐orbital venous
plexus of overnight‐fasted mice and then the mice were killed under
anaesthesia. Mouse liver maximum lobule was collected. Some liver tissue
samples were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for subsequent histological
examination and others were stored at −80°C until further experiments.