Progesterone (PROG) decreases brain lesion volume and edema on day 3 after collagenase-induced ICH. (A) Representative images of Luxol fast blue/Cresyl Violet-stained brain sections on day 3 after collagenase-induced ICH. The area of the lesion is indicated by a lack of staining; scale bar = 2 mm. (B) Brain lesion volume was measured on Luxol fast blue/Cresyl Violet-stained brain sections. Quantification analysis revealed that brain lesion volume was smaller in the progesterone-treated group than in the vehicle-treated group 3 days after ICH (n=10–11 mice/group, *p<0.05). (C) Progesterone post-treatment reduced brain swelling after collagenase-induced ICH compared with that of the vehicle-treated group (n=10–11 mice/group, *p<0.05). (D) Progesterone post-treatment reduced brain water content in the ipsilateral striatum after collagenase-induced ICH compared with that of the vehicle-treated group (n=6 mice/group, *p<0.05). All values are means ± SD. Ipsi, ipsilateral; Contra, contralateral.