MMP2 and Hypertension: In addition, we previously showed that L-NAME-induced hypertension in late pregnant rats triggered the increases in MMP-2 and -9 activities in placenta and MMP-2 in uterus and these changes were associated with angiogenic imbalance which was featured by increase in soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PLGF) [77].