MMP-3 Contributes to Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Neuronal Loss, BBB Damage, and Neuroinflammation in an MPTP Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Figure 4
MPTP-induced BBB breakage is prevented in MMP-3−/− mice. At 3 days after MPTP injection in the absence (MMP-3−/−; (c and d)) or presence (MMP-3+/+; (a and b)) of MMP-3, FITC-linked albumin was administered to detect for brain vascular permeability. (e) Bars represent the FITC-labeled albumin-positive area in the SNpc, respectively. Four or five animals were used for each experimental group. Whole values are normalized by PBS-injected MMP-3+/+ mice. Two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test (, ). , significantly different from PBS-injected MMP-3+/+ mice; , significantly different from MPTP-injected MMP-3+/+ mice. Arrows indicate FITC-linked albumin leakage, indicating extravasations of FITC-labeled albumin into the brain. Dotted lines indicate the SNpc, where DA neurons were degenerating after MPTP injection. Scale bar, 400 μm.
