*4.2. Surgical Procedures*

All the mice were subjected to inhalational anesthesia by isoflurane (2-chloro-2-[difluoromethoxy] -1,1,1-trifluoroethane). A midline laparotomy was performed. Partial hepatectomy was then carried out while using aseptic extirpation of the median and left lateral lobes (around 70%). The removed liver sample was immediately weighed. Laparotomy with the manipulation of the liver was carried out in sham-operated mice.
