To further investigate the underlying mechanism of PUR-induced neuroprotection, we examined the expression of several factors previously identified in association with Shh-mediated responses.22,34 No differences in the mRNA levels of pro-survival factor Bcl-2 (Figure 5a) and neurotrophic factors BDNF (Figure 5b), NGF (Figure 5c) or VEGFα (Figure 5d) were found between VEH- and PUR-treated animals at 9 or 24 h after stroke. This evidence concerns the gene NGF and stroke disorder.