Figure 3. MMP-2/-9 activation following retinal ischemia is abrogated with azithromycin treatment. A: Representative gel zymograms showing matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2)/-9 gelatinolytic activity in the ischemic (R) and contralateral (L) retina after 1 and 6 h of reperfusion and (B) reduction of MMP-2/-9 expression/activity after 6 h of reperfusion in the azithromycin-treated rats compared to the vehicle-treated rats. Active MMPs were identified on the zymogram based on their molecular weight and visualized as a white band against a saturated blue background. The histogram represents the densitometry analysis of the bands expressed as arbitrary units of optical density (mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]; n = 4 for each group; ***p<0.001; ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer test for multiple comparisons). AZM = azithromycin-treated rats; VEH = vehicle-treated rats; Rep time = reperfusion time; R = right ischemic eye; L = left eye; MW = molecular weight.