PTGS2 and brain ischemia: Using animal models for SD and brain ischemia, it has been shown that an increased prostaglandin and subsequently COX-2 production was observed within hours after SD and brain ischemia in perifocal neocortex, the hippocampus, and the striatum as well as in endothelial cells in the infarct core, which may amplify the ischemic inflammation and cell death via enhancement of edema and delivery of pro-inflammatory cells into the ischemic brain [181].