Fig. 3

Lcn2 deletion alleviates post-stroke neurological deficits. a mNSS was used for sensorimotor function assessment after the MCAO surgery. ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01 for MCAO-operated mice in WT group vs. Lcn2^−/− group. b–f Long-term cognitive function was assessed by the MWM at days 22–28 post-MCAO surgery. d Representative swimming paths of mice attempting to find the hidden platform on the last training day (top traces, “learning”) or searching for the removed platform in the probe trial (bottom traces, “memory”). b, c Escape latency and path length were recorded on days 23–27 post-MCAO surgery. ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05 for MCAO-operated group vs. corresponding sham-operated group; ^###P < 0.001, ^#P < 0.05 for MCAO-operated mice in WT group vs. Lcn2^−/− group. e, f Time in the target quadrant and platform crossings were recorded in the probe trial, ***P < 0.001 and *P < 0.05 for MCAO-operated group vs. corresponding sham-operated group; ^#P < 0.05. Data are mean ± SD; n = 10 per group