SPRR1B and Stroke: On the molecular level stroke induces neuronal growth-promoting genes in sequential waves post insult to initiate axonal sprouting in the peri-infarct cortex, as initially shown in a rat somato-sensory cortex (barrel field) infarct model (Carmichael et al., 2005): in the early phase immediate early genes and growth related mRNAs such as SPRR1 are induced 3–7 days after stroke.