Figure 5

MMP-2, -9 and -12 in the human spinal cord after traumatic injury. Images were taken from cases with different survival times after SCI in transverse sections. A: Immunohistochemistry for MMP-2 two days after injury. A few positive round cells (arrows) in areas of massive tissue destruction and hemorrhagic infiltration could be seen. B: In the same case, areas of non-haemorrhagic lesion site revealed a higher number of immunoreactive cells with a round to oval morphology (arrows). C: At 8 days after SCI, MMP-2 immunoreactive microglia/macrophages were still visible in areas of bleeding (arrows). D: In the same case, the peri-lesional area demonstrated round to oval cells (arrows) with a density and distribution corresponding to earlier survival times. E: Two days after traumatic SCI, staining for MMP-9 demonstrated immunoreactive cells (arrows) with a mostly rounded morphology, in areas close to the lesion but without signs of hemorrhagic infiltration. F: In contrast to the more even distribution in E, clusters of positive cells could be seen in and around blood vessels (arrow). G: In sections one segment away from the lesion, hardly any MMP-9 positive cells were detectable. H: At 24 days after injury, large numbers of MMP-9 positive round cells were visible at the lesion epicentre, filling the area of tissue destruction. I: At a survival time of 2 days, immunohistochemistry for MMP-12 displayed rare positive cells (arrow) at the lesion site with a round morphology. J: At 24 days after SCI, many large round to oval shaped cells demonstrated strong MMP-12 immunoreactivity at the site of injury. (A-J, mag. ×260)