In particular, in cortical astrocyte cultures obtained from Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1-deficient NHE1(-/-) mice the lack of NHE1 attenuated the damage induced by conditions mimicking cerebral ischemia in vitro, and this effect was confirmed also in vivo (Kintner et al., 2004). The gene discussed is SLC9A1; the disease is brain ischemia.