Fig. 1.

The figure depicts an overview of the experimental design. The figure shows MEL treatment timelines to rats with Gulf War Illness (GWI), neurobehavioral studies, and brain tissue analyses. The rats were first exposed to GWI-related chemicals pyridostigmine bromide, DEET, and permethrin, and 15 min of restraint stress for 28 days. Six months later, GWI rats received vehicle or MEL (5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg, five days/week) for two months. In the next two months, animals were next interrogated with a battery of behavioral tests to ascertain cognitive and mood function, and brain tissues were harvested for biochemical assays and immunohistochemical studies.