Animals treated with Mexidol or Semax had significantly more neurons with high nuclear PGC-1α immunoreactivity in the penumbra: 3-fold more in the Stroke + Mexidol group and 2.5-fold more in the Stroke + Semax group compared to the Stroke + Saline group at 7 days postoperation, as well as at 21 days. Here, PPARGC1A is linked to Stroke.