Activation of Stellate Cells Before Induction of Hepatic Fibrosis – Precise Timing in Choline-deficient Diet-fed Rat Model

Introduction Quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) store vitamin A as lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. The activated HSCs by several stimuli have functions similar to that of myofibroblasts and play key roles in hepatic fibrosis [1-3]. However, precise timing between activation of the HSC and induction of hepatic fibrosis is still unknown. Cholinedeficient (CD) diet induces fatty liver and subsequently hepatic fibrosis in rats. We investigated the changes of HSCs in the progress of hepatic fibrosis induced by CD diet in rats, and analyzed the time course from the activation of the HSCs to the induction of hepatic fibrosis.