We found that PEP-1-PGK1, but not PEP-1 peptide or Con-PGK1, was delivered to the gerbil hippocampus, and 0.1 mg/kg PEP-1-PGK1 treatment effectively improved hyperlocomotion and hippocampal neuronal death induced by ischemia in the gerbils, while a higher (1.0 mg/kg) concentration of PEP-1-PGK1 had no protective effects against ischemia. Here, PGK1 is linked to ischemia.