Mean number of TUNEL-positive cells per hypothalamic section for normothermic controls (NT), vehicle-treated heatstroke rats (VEH+HS), and KYNA-treated heatstroke rats (KYNA+HS). The values were obtained 85 min after the start of heat exposure for heatstroke groups or the equivalent time period for normothermic group. bP<0.05, in comparison with NT group. eP<0.05, in comparison with (VEH+HS) group. All heatstroke groups had heat exposure (43 °C) withdrawn exactly at 68 min and were then allowed to recover at room temperature (26 °C). Bars were the mean±SD or six rats per group. Top panels showed the hypothalamic staining for a NT rat (A), a (VEH+HS) rat (B), and a (KYNA+HS) rat (C).