Increased hepatic leptin is associated with NASH progression in obesity.

<p>qRTPCR analysis of hepatic leptin mRNA expression in two toxin model of NASH. <i>A</i>. Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) model: Y-axis represents fold of leptin mRNA expression in DIO, DIO mice exposed with BDCM for 24h, for 48h, for 1week and for 4 weeks post BDCM exposure. <i>B</i>. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) model: Y-axis represents fold of leptin mRNA expression in DIO and DIO mice exposed with CCl₄ for 1w. n = 3, P<0.05 is considered statistically significant (*). <i>C</i>. Picro-sirius red (PSR) staining of liver sections of DIO, DIO+BDCM at 24h, DIO+BDCM at 48h, DIO+BDCM at 1w and DIO+BDCM at 4w post BDCM exposure; 20× images (n = 3). Black arrowhead depicts macro and micro vesicular fibrosis. <i>D</i>. Stages of fibrosis of stained liver sections from two different model of NASH (toxin and dietary model) were reviewed using the criteria of the NIH Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NIH NASH CRN). Table depicts the NASH CRN scores for DIO, DIO+BDCM (toxin model) and MCS, MCD (Dietary model).