As Figure 1D–F show, MMP-9 and MMP-2 levels were both increased in the peri-infarct cortex of ischemia-treated rats compared with sham-operated group at 72 h after ischemia-reperfusion, which is consistent with previous reports [21] (MMP-9+ cells·mm−2, MCAO, 941.9±61.5 versus sham, 452.19±31.78, p<0.01; integrated density of MMP-2, MCAO, 35160.7±2458.38 versus sham, 10550.49±653.22, p<0.001, n = 3). Here, MMP2 is linked to ischemia.