Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression and localization of β-catenin in the liver tissue during hepatic fibrosis. Methods Healthy adult male Kunming mice（EM>n /EM>=45） were randomly divided into experiment group(EM>n /EM>=30) and control group(EM>n/EM> =15). The mouse of the experimental group was subcutaneously injected with 50% carbon tetrachloride (CClSUB>4/SUB>)-corn oil at a dose of 6ml/kg body weight twice a week; the control group was injected subcutaneously with the same volume of corn oil. Mice in each group were sacrifced at 1, 4 and 8 weeks, and the liver fibrosis pathology was estimated and compared by Masson staining and desmin immunohistochemistry staining. RT-PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry method were used to verify the expression and localization of β-catenin in the hepatic tissue. Results There were few collagen fibers in portal veins and the portal area in the control group. Proliferation of collagen fibers was be observed in each mouse liver of the experimental groups and was aggravated with the lasting of the experiment. In immunohistochemical staining, desmin positive cells were observed in the liver of all groups, but the positive cell number in experiment group was higher than that of control group (EM>P/EM> <0.01). RT-PCR result showed a decreased expression of β-catenin mRNA in the liver of experimental group at 4 and 8 weeks after CClSUB>4/SUB> treatment(EM>P /EM><0.01)，but no significant difference was found between 1 week experimental group and control group（EM>P /EM>＞0.05）. Immunostaining showed that the β-catenin was mainly expressed and localized in the membrane of hepatic cells and bile duct epithelium cells of the control group, and in the cytosol of proliferated bile duct epithelioid cells and bile duct epithelium cells of the experimental group. The integrated optical density was significant different between control and experimental groups(EM>P/EM> <0.01). Conclusion The expression o

Key words:  Liver fibrosis, β-catenin, Bile duct epithelial cell, CClSUB>4/SUB>, Immunohistochemistry, Mouse