AKT1 and ischemia: By comparison, the neuroprotective effects of STX in murine models of ischemia required the rapid activation of the PI3K/Akt (Protein Kinase B) signaling cascade (Lebesgue et al., 2010; Etgen et al., 2011), while the anti-nociceptive response regulated by STX in noradrenergic spinal neurons specifically required.