Consistent with the increased neuronal survival induced by EtOH, examination of IHC against the apoptotic marker-cleaved caspase-3 shows reduced number of positive cells within the core after EtOH treatment compare to sucrose (EtOH post-ischemia, 21.1 ± 3.8; sucrose post-ischemia, 43.9 ± 7.1; Fig. 5). This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and ischemia.