Melatonin Alleviates PM_2.5-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in ApoE^-/- Mice

Figure 1

Melatonin improved the increased lipid content and steatosis in the liver induced by PM_2.5. (a) Ultrasound examination of liver—comparison of liver echo and kidney echo. (b) The ultrastructure of liver tissues via electron microscopy (magnification, 200; scale bar, 2 μm). (c) Liver sections with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining (magnification, 200 and 400; scale bar, 60 μm and 30 μm). (d) Liver steatosis assessed by Oil Red O staining (magnification, 200 and 400; scale bar, 60 μm and 30 μm). (e) Liver sag (anterior-posterior diameter) and liver trans (left-right diameter) measurement to mice weight ratio. (f) The ratio of the Oil Red O-stained area to the total tissue area. (g) Hepatic total cholesterol lipid levels (mmol/g). (h) Hepatic triacylglycerol lipid levels (mmol/g). Con: animals were treated with saline; Mel: animals were treated with melatonin; PM_2.5: animals were treated with PM_2.5; PM_2.5+Mel: animals were treated with melatonin and PM_2.5. Data are shown as . mice per group. for Con group vs PM_2.5 group and PM_2.5 group vs PM_2.5+Mel group.