Figure 4. The effect of dexamethasone on the number of preserved neurons 72 h after 40 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion. The number of preserved neurons per constant area (2 x 2 mm) were counted in the same level of coronal sections. Dexamethasone was injected intraperitoneally 60 min before middle cerebral artery occlusion (2 mg/kg) and immediately after MCA occlusion (2 mg/kg). (A) Cerebral cortex, (B) striatum. *P < 0.01 as compared with the values on the corresponding side in the saline group.