Disturbing CXLC12/CXCR4 pathway at the hyperacute phase after stroke could attenuate infarct volume and improve neurological outcome. (A) TTC staining for brain coronal sections of rats received AMD3100 (AMD) or vehicle (Veh.) treatment twice with 6‐h interval at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after tMCAO shows the area sizes of cerebral infarct. Brain slices were prepared 24 h after the last treatment. (B) Percentage of the brain infarct volumes of tMCAO rats received AMD3100 or vehicle treatment (n = 10 per group). *P < 0.05 AMD3100 group versus vehicle group. Overall neurological severity scores (C) and the performance on rotarod tests (D) were analyzed throughout the indicated period of tMCAO rats treated with AMD3100 or vehicle at different time points (n = 10 per group). *P < 0.05, 12‐h‐treated group versus vehicle group; #P < 0.05, 24‐h‐treated group versus vehicle group.