Figure 3.

Distribution of MMP-2 (a, b), MMP-9 (c, d) and chondroitin sulphate (e, f) in the ventral prostate of control (a, c, e) and obese rats (b, d, f). The distribution of MMP-9 is higher than MMP-2 in the rat ventral prostate and obesity increases the amount of these enzymes in the region between acini (b, d). The chondroitin sulphate is increased in obese rats and shows subepithelial localization besides the interacinar distribution. Scale Bars: 50 μm. (g) Relative frequency (%) of immunohistochemistry for MMPs and chondroitin sulphate in the ventral prostate of control (black bars) and obese rats (grey bars). Student's t-test *P < 0.05.