Quantitative Stroke Infarct Analysis

Infarct volume estimation was performed on animals terminated on day 5 post stroke using our previously described procedures [59 (link)]. Briefly, brain slices (2 mm thick) between − 2.00 and + 4.00 mm from bregma were incubated in a 2% TTC solution at 37 °C for 20 min and then photographed using a Nikon E950 digital camera attached to a dissecting microscope. Digitized images were coded and analyzed by an investigator blind to the code. Infarct volume was determined using the Quantity One software package (Bio-Rad, CA) or ImageJ (NIH). Hemorrhagic loci were also visualized in TTC-stained sections by an investigator blind to the code.