STAMBP and Cerebral ischemia: However, it has been shown that α-MSH or its analog can also rescue neurons from apoptosis induced by other insults, including traumatic brain injury caused by controlled cerebral impact [50], cerebral ischemia generated by common carotid artery occlusion [51], and hippocampal excitotoxicity induced by excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate [52].