Fig. 3

Increased expression of MMP-3 and MMP-9 at brain microvessels of CIA rats and the general MMPs activity. a and b Representative images of the immunostaining of MMP-3 (a) and MMP-9 (b) in the cortex and the hippocampus of CIA rats and controls. The quantitative results of the immunostaining are shown on the right-hand side of the images. c The general activity of MMPs in the cortex and the hippocampus, represented by the relative fluorescence unit (RFU) per minute. The data are given as the mean ± SEM of 3-4 animals. *P < 0.05 compared with controls