2.2 Mouse model of CCl4‐induced hepatic fibrosis
Forty mice were also assigned into five groups (control, CCl4‐corn oil, and CCl4‐PB groups) followed by a randomization procedure (http://www.randomizer.org/, Research Randomizer, RRID:SCR_008563), with eight animals per group. A mouse model of liver fibrosis was established by intraperitoneally injecting of 10% CCl4 mixed with oil for 4 weeks (0.25mL/kg body weight, thrice a week). Thirty-two mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 mice per group): the model group (received only the CCl4‐corn oil injection) and the PB‐treated group (received the CCl4 injection and a concurrent 1, 2.5, 5mg·kg−1 PB intraperitoneal injection every other day began during the CCl4 treatment). The control group (n = 8) was intraperitoneally injected with corn oil alone for 8 weeks. The vehicle group (n = 8) was intraperitoneal injection with 2% DMSO as the. Blood samples (200 μl) were collected from the retro‐orbital venous plexus of overnight‐fasted mice and then the mice were killed under anaesthesia. Mouse liver maximum lobule was collected. Some liver tissue samples were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for subsequent histological examination and others were stored at −80°C until further experiments.