CASP3 and Cerebral ischemia: To further ascertain the underlying mechanism of attenuating cerebral ischemia induced by knockdown of ArgRS, we examined the molecules involved in apoptosis, such as cleaved caspase-3 and Cyt C. After ischemic insult, Cyt C in the cytoplasm significantly increased in the MCAO and AV-Control group compared with the sham (1 day, p < 0.01; 3 days, p < 0.001) (Fig. 6d, f).