Figure 2.

Motor recovery augmented by atomoxetine or fluoxetine is associated with decreased number of inhibitory interneurons.

(A) Fluoxetine or atomoxetine-treated mice have statistically significantly decreased number of parvalbumin positive (PV⁺) neurons in ipsilateral (I) medial premotor area (AGm, medial agranular cortex) compared to that of the contralateral (C) hemisphere (n = 6 per group; unpaired t-test, ***P < 0.001). Values are expressed as mean ± standard error. (B) A representative immunofluorescence confocal microscopy image of a mouse brain section on day 42 after stroke. PV signal is depicted in green and cell nuclei (stained with DAPI) in blue. Note, the representative Cresyl violet-stained brain section is shown to illustrate the imaged medial premotor area (red boxes). Atomo 1.0: 1.0 mg/kg atomoxetine; Fluox 10.0: 10 mg/kg fluoxetine.