L‐NBP increased Akt activity and decreased the levels of cleaved caspase‐3 and Bax but had no effect on the expression of Bcl‐2 at postischemic day 28 in the hippocampus of ischemic hemisphere after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Western blots of phosphor‐Akt (Ser473) (A), total Akt (A), cleaved caspase‐3 (B), Bax (B), and Bcl‐2 (B) in the hippocampus of rats treated with vehicle or l‐NBP, respectively. Quantified results were normalized to β‐actin expression. Values were expressed as percentages compared to the sham‐operated rats (set to 100%) and represented as group mean ± SEM. n = 6 rats per group. ##
P < 0.01 versus sham group, *P < 0.05 versus vehicle‐treated group.