eNOS^-/- mice show significantly decreased BDNF and TrkB expression in the ischemic brain.

<p>A-C: BDNF-immunostaining and quantitative data in the IBZ; D-F: TrkB-immunostaining and quantitative data in the IBZ; G: Quantitative data of BDNF/TrkB-mRNA expression in the IBZ. H: BDNF, 140 KDa and 90 KDa of TrkB protein expression in the IBZ measured by Western blot and quantitative data; Scale bar in A = 50 µm; *p<0.05, n = 12/group in A–F, n = 4/group in G and H.</p

eNOS^-/- increased neurological functional deficits and axon damage, but not increased lesion volume in the ischemic brain 7 days after stroke.

<p>Axon density is positively correlated with the functional outcome. A: Lesion volume; B: Single pellet reaching test; C: Bielshowsky silver- staining in the bundles of striatum and quantitative data; D: pNFH-immunostaining in the striatal bundles and quantitative data. E: Correlation analysis between single pellet reaching test and axon density. Scale bar in C = 50 µm; in D = 25 µm. *p<0.05, n = 12/group</p

BDNF/TrkB mediates eNOS^-/- -induced neurite outgrowth reduction after OGD in cortical cell cultures.

<p>A: Western blot data for eNOS, BDNF and TrkB protein level; B: RT-PCR data for BDNF and TrkB mRNA level. C: Neurite outgrowth and quantitative data in cultured cortical neurons. *p<0.05, n = 6 well/group.</p

eNOS^-/- decreased the number of oligodendrocytes and OPCs but not demyelination in the ischemic striatal bundles 7 days after stroke.

<p>A: MBP protein expression measured by Western blot and quantitative data; B: CNPase-immunostaining and quantitative data; C: PDGFRα-immunostaining and quantitative data. Scale bar in B = 50 µm, in C = 25 µm. *p<0.05, n = 4/group in A; n = 12/group in B and C.</p