MMP14 and ischemia: Moreover, we found that MT1‐MMP protein expression began to rise on 4d after ischemia, and peaked on 7d; MT1‐MMP protein levels in exercise group was significantly higher than those in MCAO group on 4d, 7d after ischemia, which suggested that treadmill exercise could promote MT1‐MMP expression around cerebral ischemic area; MT1‐MMP protein levels increased not significantly on 14d after ischemia, indicating that MT1‐MMP plays a major role in early angiogenesis, but not in the latter stages.