KDR and Stroke: In rats, neurorestorative therapy of stroke increases levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [24],[29],[30],[31],[32], which enhances vessel density and arteriogenesis primarily in the boundary zone of the ischemic lesion, and reduces functional deficits [24], [29], [30], [31], [32] These newly formed vessels are important for tissue perfusion, but most likely their benefit derives from the factors expressed by newly formed vessels, such as BDNF, VEGF, VEGFR2 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) like MMP 2 and MMP 9 [33], [34].