FNDC5 and Cerebral ischemia: After focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(MCAO), rats exhibited significant neurological deficit that is manifested as elevated neurological deficit score compared with that in the S group (2.54 ± 1.10 vs. 0.00 ± 0.00), while treatment of irisin significantly reduced neurological deficit score compared with the FC group (1.58 ± 0.83 vs. 2.54 ± 1.10; Figure 1a).