eNOS in adipocytes is critical for preventing NASH development.

<p>(A) Livers of HFD-fed WT and eNOS^-/- mice were stained with Sirius red, 8-OHdG, or CD68. Arrows indicate areas of fibrosis stained by Sirius red. Scale bar, 100 μm. (B) Expression of fibrosis-related or inflammatory genes in the livers of HFD-fed WT and eNOS^-/- mice that were sacrificed in a non-fasted state. Expressions were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR assays and normalized to β-actin expression in each sample (mean ± SE; n = 3–4). Statistically significant differences between WT and eNOS^-/- are indicated (*p < 0.05). (Tgfb1, transforming growth factorβ1; Col4a1, collagen type IVα1; Mcp1, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; Il6, interleukin 6; Il1, interleukin 1). (C) Results of insulin tolerance test in HFD-fed WT and eNOS^-/- mice (n = 3–5). (D) HFD-fed WT and eNOS^-/- mice were fasted overnight and administered insulin (5U) by intravenous injection. Activation of Akt in the liver was examined by immunoblot analysis.