Table 1. Plasma α-MSH concentrations (pg/mL) 24 hours after MCAO and intraperitoneal administration of α-MSH or saline.

Dose of α-MSH	Saline	100 μg/kg	500 μg/kg	P-value
Two hours MCAO (median, IQR)	27.4 (15.4–49.6)	10.3 (1.9–16.9)	38.1 (22.5–82.5)	<0.001
Three hours MCAO (median, IQR)	9.6 (6.0–44.4)	4.8 (3.4–5.9)	38.2 (29.1–52.1)	0.002

α-MSH, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone; IQR, interquartile range; MCAO, middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Statistics are by the Kruskal–Wallis H-test.