Fig. 5
Hepatic regenerative effects of PD-MSCsPRL−1 in a rat model of BDL. a Representative images of histological analysis of BDL rat liver sections using H&E and Sirius red staining. b Quantification of Sirius red positive area. c-f Serological analysis of ALT, AST, TBIL, and ALB in individual rat serum samples (n = 20/group). g PCNA expression and h quantification of the PCNA-positive area in a rat liver section from each group determined using IHC. i Western blotting of liver regeneration markers (e.g., ALB, CDK4, and cyclin D1) in BDL-induced rat liver protein. GAPDH was used as a loading control. j Positive correlation value between ALB and cyclin D1. Data from each group are shown as the means ± SD and were assessed using Student’s t test or one-way ANOVA. *p < 0.05 vs. NTx, #p < 0.05 vs. PD-MSCs. ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALB, albumin; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; BDL, bile duct ligation; CDK4, cyclin-dependent kinase 4; GAPDH, glycraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; NTx, nontransplantation; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; PRL-1, phosphatase of regenerating liver-1; TBIL, total bilirubin