Left forelimb function. Rats were evaluated using the cylinder test before (Pre-MCAO) and weekly for three weeks (Week 1, 2, 3) after transient right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The ischemic lesion causes decreased use of the left forelimb, i.e., a positive limb use asymmetry score, derived from counting limb placements, [(right - left) / (right + left + both)]. 0.72 mg 17β-estradiol (E2)-treated, compared to placebo (P)-treated and 0.18 mg E2-treated rats exhibited increased left forelimb use three weeks after experimental ischemic stroke, *p=0.05, ANOVA.