Figure 3.

In a representative sildenafil-treated rat, ${\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast }$ (A), CBF (B), and FA (C) maps tracked angiogenesis via lower ${\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast }$ values, recovered blood supply with hyperintensity in CBF, and axonal remodeling by higher FA values after stroke, respectively. Red arrows in A2, B2, and C2 indicated that angiogenesis, CBF recovery, and axonal remodeling simultaneously occurred starting from 1 week after stroke, respectively. At 6 weeks after stroke, the low ${\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast }$ value area (D), elevated CBF area (E), and increased FA value area (F) were outlined in individual maps and projected onto a T₂ map (G). Fiber tracking by DTI in the treated (H) and in a control (I) rats indicated that the axons were reorganized along ischemic boundary, which were coincident with FA maps of the treated (C7) and the control (J) rats.