BAX and brain ischemia: Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining indicated that a dramatic increment of immunoreactive cells for bcl-2 (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001) and bcl-xl (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001) was found in MCAO rats experiencing AR-treatment (8, 16, and 32 mg/kg; Figures 2A,D,E), while the bax-positive cell numbers in cortex appeared to be reduced in AR treated MCAO rats (8, 16, and 32 mg/kg; p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001; Figures 2A,F), suggesting that anti-apoptosis pathway seemed to serve as a pivotal role in the anti-cerebral ischemia triggered by AR.