Figure 4

Castrated rats exhibit decreased wound gelatinase activity. (a) Day 2 and 6 wound tissue from (IN) intact and castrated (CSX) rats was analysed for MMP-2 (upper panels) and MMP-9 (lower panels) protein levels by immunohistochemistry. (b) Numbers of cells staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9 in day 2 wounds were not significantly affected by castration; numbers staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9 were decreased in the day 6 wounds of castrated rats. (c) Wound expression of the genes which encode MMP-2 and MMP-9 was unaffected by castration. (d) Day 2 wound pro-MMP-9 levels were decreased in castrated (CS) rats relative to intact (In) controls. MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein activity in day 6 wounds was decreased in castrated animals. (e) Macrophage gelatinase production was similar between untreated (C) and DHT-treated (D) cells, either unactivated or lipopolysaccharide-activated (+). n=5–7 per treatment group. Data are expressed as mean±s.e.m. ^*P<0.05, ^**P<0.01 (intact vs CSX). Scale bars define a distance of 25 μM. Arrows identify positively stained cells.