Abstract: Objective To observe epithelial-mesenchymal phenotypes and oxidative stress related protein expressions of the
liver cells in a rat model of liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation and recanalization. Methods Twenty-four male Wistar
rats were randomized into 4 groups, including a sham-operated group, two bile duct ligation groups with ligation for 2 and 4
weeks, and a bile duct ligation group with a 2-week ligation followed by a 2-week recanalization. HE staining and Masson
staining were used to assess liver fibrosis in the rats, and immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were employed to
detect expressions of the epithelial and mesenchymal marker proteins and oxidative stress-related proteins. Results Compared
with the sham-operated group, the rats with bile duct ligation showed obvious liver fibrosis, which worsened as the ligation
time extended, accompanied by significantly increased expression of α-SMA, collagen I, NOX4 and vimetin and reduced
E-cadherin expression. Compared with the rats with bile duct ligation for 4 weeks, the rats in bile duct ligation-recanalization
group showed obviously lessened liver fibrosis, significantly lowered expressions of NOX4 and mesenchymal cell maker
proteins, and enhanced expressions of epithelial cell marker proteins. Conclusion Bile duct ligation up-regulates mesenchymal
phenotype-related proteins and NOX4 protein expression and down-regulates the expression of epithelial phenotype-related
proteins, and these changes can be reversed by subsequent bile duct recanalization.