Figure 1.

The neuroprotective mechanisms of preconditioning exercise in the brain. Ischemic stroke induces neurovascular injury through mechanisms such as excitotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and inflammation. Preconditioning exercise, which is prophylactic exercise prior to stroke, has been shown to exert beneficial effects after stroke. In the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazorlium chloride (TTC) study, the tissue infarction in rats with preconditioning exercise (right, white area) was decreased compared with the brain of rats without preconditioning (left).