Abstract: AIM: To activate hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro in precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) stimulated by acetaldehyde for studying and screening anti-fibrotic drugs.METHODS: PCLS were prepared by the vibratome, and incubated with 700 μm·L^-1 acetaldehyde for 0, 2, 4 and 6 h.The medium and homogenate were retained to determine glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content.PCLS were prepared for paraffin sections.The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and the result was analyzed with image analysis software.RESULTS: The leakages of GST and LDH were increased significantly compared with those in 0 h group (P < 0.05).Exposure to the acetaldehyde for 6 h, the content of Hyp in tissue slices was 1.5-fold of those in 0 h (P < 0.05).The immunohistochemical expression of α-SMA positive cells were observed in 4 and 6 h groups by the light microscope.Image analysis showed that there were significant differences in the areas and positive rates (P <0.01).CONCLUSION: Incubated with 700 μm·L^-1 acetaldehyde during 6 h, HSC is activated in PCLS.The immunohistochemical technology of α-SMA is a reliable method of identifying activated HSC in PCLS.

Key words: precision-cut liver slice, acetaldehyde, hepatic stellate cell, activate, α-SMA