Fig. 2.

(−)-Epicatechin (EC) pretreatment attenuates infarct volume in the aging brain. Representative photomicrographs of Cresyl violet-stained sections from vehicle- and EC-treated WT and Nrf2^−/− mice. A and B: tissue voids and regions of degenerating morphology were indistinguishable in vehicle (Veh)-treated WT (N = 8) and Nrf2^−/− (N = 9) mice. C and D: sections from EC-treated mice (WT = 7; Nrf2 = 9) displayed more preserved morphology in general, although regions of pyknotic nuclei and cell death were also present. E and F: quantification of infarct volume showed a significant reduction in EC-treated WT mice relative to vehicle controls. EC treatment in Nrf2^−/− exhibits a trend toward a decrease in infarction volume; however, this trend did not reach a significant value (P = 0.12). Data are expressed as means ± SE. *P < 0.05; NS, not significant. Scale bars = 200 μm.