Cytochrome C and AIF expression after stroke. A & B. The expression of cytochrome C in cytosol was dramatically increased in vehicle-treated female mice compared to males at 6h of stroke, and Q-VD-OPh treatment attenuated this increase. Males had increased levels of cytochrome C at 12h of stroke compared to females, and the levels were higher with Q-VD-OPh treatment. C & D. Both male and female mice had increased expression of AIF in nuclei at 6h after stroke, which was unaffected by Q-VD-OPh administration. The optical density was expressed as the ratio of cytochrome C or AIF protein bands to control bands. F,female; M, male; SH,sham; S, stroke; Veh, vehicle; QVD, Q-VD-OPh; H3, Histone.