Figure 4

Hepatic expression of matrix metalloproteinases. (a) Hepatic gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; 2, 9, 1, 8 and 13) in healthy rats (CT), in pre-ascitic cirrhotic rats (CHBasal) and in rats receiving the vehicle (CHVehicle) or 10 mg/kg/day of the cannabinoid type 1-antagonist Rimonabant (CHRimonabant) for 2 additional weeks. Values were determined by real-time PCR and expressed as fold induction over control healthy rats. (b) Densitometric quantification (upper) and representative image (lower) of western blot analysis of hepatic MMP-13. (c) Densitometric quantification of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity (upper) and their representative zymogram (lower). Data are expressed as mean±s.e.