Fig. 3: 3D Multiparametric USI monitoring of SLD in live rats.

a–c 3D PD images and 2D overlaid B-mode US-PD images based on the steatosis grade and SLD-induced weeks. LLL left lateral lobe, PLVs peri-lobular vessels, MHV major hepatic vessel, sPLV straight peri-lobular vessel, and cPLV curved peri-lobular vessel. d Monitoring of quantitative US indices over 8 weeks: UFD indices (weight-normalized vessel volume occupancy (wnVVO), weight-normalized fractional moving blood volume (wnFMBV), vessel bifurcation density (VBD), and sum of angles metric (SOAM)), ATI index (estimated attenuation coefficient (EAC)), and ASQ index (focal disturbance ratio (FDR)). Two-sided Mann–Whitney test without adjustment for multiple comparisons at each week (normal vs SLD); *p < 0.05. e Monitoring of blood biomarkers for liver function tests over 8 weeks. ALT alanine aminotransferase, AST aspartate transaminase, and TBIL total bilirubin. Two-sided Mann–Whitney test without adjustment for multiple comparisons at each week (normal vs SLD); *p < 0.05. f Oil Red O (ORO), CD31, and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained images for histopathological evaluation in the SLD progression monitoring. CD31 signals are shown in green. g Correlation plot between the hepatic fat accumulation and CD31 density. Two-sided Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation tests were performed (***p < 0.001). Pearson’s coefficient (PC) and Spearman’s coefficient (SC) represents linear and non-linear monotonic relationships. h Quantitative histopathological results from the SLD progression monitoring and validation schemes at SLD-induced weeks 0, 1–2, 3–4, and 8. Two-sided Mann–Whitney test between time points (comparisons shown only vs. week 0); *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001. All statistical results, including other comparisons and exact p-values, are provided in Supplementary Tables 2 and 3. All data are presented as mean ± SEM. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.