Evolution of the signal hypointensity zones detected in the rat brain In vivo before MCAO and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after injection of AAV-pDCX-FerrH, AAV-pDCX-eGFP or PBS using T2*-weighted MGE pulse sequence. Red arrows point to the signal hypointensity in the ischemic lesion area. Green arrows point to the signal hypointensity in the rat brain area close to the SVZ. Abbreviations: MCAO, middle-cerebral-artery occlusion; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; AAV, adeno-associated viral backbone; pDCX, doublecortin promoter; FerrH, ferritin heavy chain; eGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein.