Marimastat treatment reduced liver injury, necrosis, and inflammation following repeated carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration.

<p>Chronic CCl4 administration resulted in liver enlargement and fibrosis (A). Hematoxylin and eosin staining of liver sections revealed decreased steatosis and inflammation (yellow arrows), and no evidence of necrosis (black arrows) in the Marimastat treated mice (B). On liver sections scored by a blinded pathologist and compared to vehicle treated controls, Marimastat treated animals showed a significantly lower steatosis score (C), less inflammatory foci per 200× field (D) and essentially no evidence of necrosis was observed (E); despite body weight loss (F). Oil, non-fibrotic control group; CCl4, fibrotic mice; VEH, vehicle treated control group; MAR, Marimastat treated experimental group; ***, P<0.001 vs. vehicle alone. Data are expressed as means ± standard error. Original magnification: 200×.