FIGURE 1.

Mmp-9 gene is transcriptionally activated after PTZ-evoked neuronal excitation in the rat hippocampus. A, MMP-9 mRNA is accumulated after PTZ-induced seizures in the rat hippocampus. RT-PCR analysis of RNA isolated from unstimulated (-PTZ) and PTZ-stimulated rat hippocampi. For each time point RNA samples obtained from six different rats were combined. For each analysis equal amounts of RNA samples were used. RT-PCR was repeated in triplicate. B, PCR-based evaluation of DNA samples obtained after immunoprecipitation of chromatin regions containing RNA polymerase II (form phosphorylated on serine 5 of C-terminal domain YSPTSPS repeats). Contents of the proximal and distal promoter fragments of the Mmp-9 gene as well as the region downstream to the Mmp-9 gene promoter were evaluated in the unstimulated (-PTZ) and in PTZ-stimulated (2 h after the onset of seizures; +PTZ) rat hippocampi. Control ChIP reactions were performed using an isotype antibody.