Fig. 2

Evaluation of the severity of diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by using clinically relevant diagnostic methods. A Analysis of pathological features through hematoxylin–eosin staining. Hepatocyte ballooning and intrahepatic lipid accumulation (droplets) were observed. The severity of liver fibrosis was evaluated through Masson’s trichrome staining. The stained samples were observed under a bright-field microscope; scale bar = 200 mm. B METAVIR scores were quantified by a licensed pathologist who was blinded to the group allocation. C Masson’s trichrome staining scores for the observed collagen fibers were quantified using ImageJ. D Serum levels of hyaluronan were measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical significance: *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.0001, compared with normal chow; #p < 0.05, ###p < 0.001, and ####p < 0.0001, compared with the high-fat diet; $p < 0.05 and $$p < 0.01, compared with the Western diet