Figure 4.

Effect of MCAO and sesamol on protein expression of apoptotic markers, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 in the ischemic cortex tissue. (A) MCAO rats exhibited increased Bax and caspase-3 expression, whereas Bcl-2 expression was decreased. (B-D) Sesamol significantly reduced apoptosis and restored marker levels to normalcy. Values are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean for five rats in each group. *P<0.05 vs. sham group, **P<0.05 vs. MCAO group. MCAO, middle cerebral artery occlusion; Bcl-2, B cell lymphoma 2; Bax, Bcl-2-associated X protein.