Figure 4

Representative images of MMP-9 immunoreactivity. (a) Illustrationimmunoreactivity images for MMP-9. All images were obtained in cortical layers III–V, 100 µm towards the midline in relation to the stroke area. Created with BioRender.com (https://biorender.com) (b) U0126 + rt-PA 50 µm: I. The immunoreactivity in the brains control side was organized in the radial orderliness of the cortical neurons. Arrow points at pearl-like MMP-9 immunoreactivity. II. The corresponding area in the stroke side of the same individual showed less defined structural organization. U0126 + rt-PA 100 µm: III. The image demonstrates a lower magnification of the control side of the brain. IV. In the stroke side of the individual in III, it became obvious that, apart from the radial organization, the immunoreactivity was organized in a more or less perpendicular to the cortical neuronal format (arrow heads), which was not often found in the control side. rt-PA V. In the control side of the animals treated with rt-PA, the immunoreactivity displayed similar features as for U0126 treated animals shown in I and III, with often radial distribution of the immunoreactivity (arrows). VI. In the stroke area of the animal shown in V, a disorganization of the MMP-9 immunoreactivity was clearly apparent (arrow heads). (c) Scatter plot showing semi-quantification of protein expression for MMP-9. Data are presented as median ± IQRand normalized to control. *P < 0.05.