ACTA1 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: Hepatic stellate cell activation was observed by significantly increased α-SMA area fractions in NASH-fed hamsters at four, eight and 12 months compared to chow (p < 0.01, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05), and at eight months compared to CTRL (p < 0.05, Figure 6B).