We also examined the expression of NRP-1, FGF-2 and VEGF in the cortex of ischemic ipsilateral brain, and found the expression of NRP-1, FGF-2 and VEGF were increased by 7 days-ischemia compared with the sham-operated group (Figure 4A–D; p<0.05; p<0.05; p<0.01). Here, NRP1 is linked to ischemia.