Figure 4.

The Nrf2-associated attenuation of reactive microgliosis contributes to ginseng neuroprotection. (A) The representative images of Iba1-positive microglia in the peri-infarct areas of cortex and striatum, signifying the level of the reactive microgliosis. (B) Quantitative analysis revealed that compared with sham controls, the post-ischemia reactive microgliosis was significantly increased in the cortex and striatum regions of both genotypes, which was more severe in the Nrf2^−/− mice. In contrast, ginseng significantly attenuated the progression in both indicated regions of post-ischemia WT mice, but not Nrf2^−/− mice. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, ^∆ p < 0.05, ^∆∆ p < 0.01. n = 3–4 per sham group, n = 5–7 per ischemic group. Iba1: ionized calcium-binding adapter protein 1; Gin: Ginseng; Veh: Vehicle; n.s.: no significance.