Figure 5. Histological examination of neuronal damage.

A, photomicrographs of the striatum of a control normothermic rat injected with 0.9% saline. B, striatum of a heatstroke rat injected with 0.9% saline at 0 min before the onset of heat exposure. C, striatum of a heatstroke rat injected with 6 mg kg⁻¹ dexamethasone at 0 min before the onset of heat exposure. Fifteen minutes after the onset of heatstroke, the striatum of the rat not injected with dexamethasone showed cell shrinkage, pyknosis of the nucleus and loss of Nissl substance (B). However, with dexamethasone injection, neuroprotection was induced, as shown in C. Scale bar, 50 μm.