Fig. 4

MCAO modelling assessment. a Consecutive coronal slices of sham operated rats. Scale bar = 20 mm. b Serial coronal slices of MCAO rats. Typical photographs of rat brain stained with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), wherein no infarction tissue was stained red, whereas the infarction area remained white. Scale bar = 20 mm. c, d Nissl staining of MCAO models revealed lesions in the brain tissues, with diminished numbers of neurons and chaotic neuronal configuration. Scale bar = 5 mm (c) and 1.5 mm (d). e, f Enlargement of healthy area and infarcted area. The black arrow indicates Nissl-positive neurons. The double arrows indicate nuclear pyknosis with karyorrhexis. Scale bar = 100 μm