Fig. 4

The in vivo effect of MMP7 on Schwann cell migration. A and B Representative immunohistochemistry images of the longitude sections of rat sciatic nerve segments treated with (A) saline control and (B) MMP7 recombinant protein. Rat sciatic nerve segments were collected at 1, 7 and 14 days after nerve crush. Red indicated S100 staining of Schwann cells, green indicated NF staining of axons, and blue indicated Hoechst staining of cell nuclei. Asterisks indicated migration from the proximal segment. Arrowheads indicated migration from the distal segment. Scale bars represented 500 μm. Boxed areas in (A and B) were shown in higher magnifications in (A’ and B’), respectively. Arrows indicated migrated Schwann cells. Scale bars represented 20 μm. c Summarized migration distances in rats injected with saline or MMP7 recombinant protein. Asterisk indicated significant different from saline control, * p-value < 0.05, n = 3