Fig. 3

Intracerebroventricular HPX injection enhanced the neovascularization of the ischemic penumbra hippocampus in rats after focal cerebral I/R injury. Compared with the respective densities in the sham group, the new vessel densities in the ischemic penumbra hippocampus (a) in rats of the MCAO group were higher at 7 days after focal cerebral I/R injury. Compared with the respective densities in the vehicle group, the new vessel densities of the ischemic penumbra hippocampus (a) in rats of the HPX group were markedly increased at 7 days after focal cerebral I/R injury. When the inhibitor of HO-1, ZnPPIX, was given along with HPX to rats after focal cerebral I/R injury, the positive effect of HPX on enhancing the neovascularization of the ischemic penumbra hippocampus (a, b) was significantly blocked. However, there was no significant difference in the new vessel density of the ischemic hippocampus in rats in the MCAO and vehicle group at 7 days after focal cerebral I/R injury (a, b). ^*P < 0.05 vs. sham group; ^#P < 0.05 vs. vehicle group; ^※P < 0.05 vs. HPX group