Figure 5.

Exogenously supplied MMP-7 reduced the amount of extracellular proNGF and cell death in slice culture. After 7 d in culture, hippocampal slices were treated with KA alone or with 1 μg/ml active MMP-7 in conjunction with KA. a, Western blot analysis of culture media from slices treated with vehicle, KA, KA plus MMP-7, or MMP7 alone and probed with anti-proNGF to determine the effect of exogenous MMP-7 on extracellular proNGF levels. ProNGF was nearly abolished in medium from slices that received 1 μg/ml active MMP-7 in conjunction with KA compared with those that received KA alone. Blots were stained with Ponceau to ensure equal protein loading and transfer. b, Slices that received KA treatment alone demonstrated 70% increase in PI uptake by 24 h as calculated by fluorescence intensity. Slices that received exogenous MMP-7 demonstrated significant rescue from cell death, as depicted by reduced PI uptake, comparable with control levels. Graph represents the normalized fluorescence index of slice images from three independent experiments. Error bars represent SEM. ***p < 0.001 relative to control. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, followed by Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test. Images and blot are representative of three independent experiments.