GDNF and stroke disorder: Recent studies have also confirmed the neuroprotective or growth-promoting properties of Dex in many tissues, such as protecting neurons after stroke by promoting glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) release [51], protected cortex neurons from apoptosis [52], [53], and decreased Lido-induced cortical neuron death indicated by the decreased expressions of caspase-3 [31].