Fig. 2

Infarction size and behavioral assessment after MCAO and DMF treatment. Control (vehicle treated, n = 8) and DMF (25 or 50 mg/kg, n = 8 of each group)-treated rat brains were sectioned and stained for TTC 72 h after MCAO (a). Infarction volume was then calculated as described in the “Methods” section using ImageJ and expressed as a percentage of total hemisphere (b). mNSS was assessed at 24 h, 72–84 h, 7 days, or 14 days after MCAO during which rats received either vehicle or 25 or 50 mg/kg DMF by oral gavage beginning 2–3 h after MCAO (n = 8 of each group). A significant and long-lasting decline in neurobehavioral deficits was seen 72 h, 7 days, and 14 days after the initiation of DMF treatment as compared to controls (c). *, ^# p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test