A) In naïve mice, plasma from VTN+/+ , but not VTN−/−, mice increased pFAK in the SVZ compared to PBS injected 24 h before into the striatum, as shown in a representative western blot and densitometry (B). C) pFAK was reduced 24 h after MCAO in the SVZ of VTN−/− female mice compare to their sham controls as shown by a representative western blot and densitometry (D). MCAO did not induce pFAK in VTN+/+ females following MCAO, suggesting that leaked VTN maintains FAK activation. E,F) In males, the levels of pFAK were increased to the same extent in VTN+/+ and VTN−/− mice following MCAO, suggesting VTN does not activate FAK in males after a stroke. N = 3, 5, 4 and 6 mice in females, N = 4, 8, 3 and 12 mice in males. * p<0.05 (Two-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey multiple comparisons). G-I) Female C57BL/6 mice with an MCAO were injected i.p. with saline or the FAK inhibitor FAK14 (3 mg/kg) at 6 h. At 24 h after MCAO, FAK14 reduced IL-6 (G) mRNA expression in the SVZ, without altering CNTF (H) and LIF (I). N = 3, 4 and 3 mice. ** p<0.01 (T-test).