Deafferentation-Induced Redistribution of MMP-2, but Not of MMP-9, Depends on the Emergence of GAP-43 Positive Axons in the Adult Rat Cochlear Nucleus
Figure 7
Distribution of MMP-2 in the ipsilateral AVCN on POD7 after incomplete lesion of VNTB due to KA injection followed by cochlear ablation. (a) Section through AVCN stained for MMP-2, showing a distinct border in the staining pattern of MMP-2 (black line). Frames indicate regions shown at higher magnification in (c) and (d). Arrowheads indicate blood vessels also found in the adjacent section shown in (b) stained for GAP-43. (b) In a section through AVCN parallel to the one shown in (a), GAP-43 expression shows a heterogeneity as well (black line) which closely corresponded to the border seen in (a). (c), (d) Photographs at high magnification taken of MMP-2 immunoreactivity in regions of AVCN corresponding to high expression level of GAP-43 () and low to no expression of GAP-43 ((), respectively. Scale bar: 200 μm for (a), (b); 20 μm for (c), (d). (e) Quantitative evaluation of MMP-2-staining intensity in cytoplasm of local populations of AVCN neurons based on photographs like those shown in (c) and (d).
