Fig. 1

Histopathological features of hepatic sections from the NC (A, G), S-PC (B, H), L-PC (C, I), TQ monotherapy (D, J), VitD monotherapy (E, K) and VitD/TQ dual therapy (F, L) groups by H&E (A–F) and Masson’s trichrome (G–L) stains (×200 magnification, scale bar = 8 µm). Additionally, the (M) arbitrary fibrosis score and (N) fibrosis index are shown in the bar graphs between the study groups. (Green arrow = central vein; black arrow = portal tract; red arrow = cellular infiltrations; yellow arrow = fibrous septa; a = P < 0.05 compared with NC group; b = P < 0.05 compared with S-PC group; c = P < 0.05 compared with L-PC group; d = P < 0.05 compared with TQ group and e = P < 0.05 compared with VitD group)