Fig. 1: Photothrombotic stroke impairs cerebral vascular integrity and motor function.

a Methodology to induce a photothrombotic (PT) stroke, (i) intraperitoneal injection of rose bengal (20 mg/kg), before (ii) 15 min excitation by a 532 nm cold laser, (iii) causing a sizeable, reproducible infarct above the (iv) primary motor cortex (outlined red), shown by Nissl stain (left) and anatomical annotations (right) from the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas [mouse.brain-map.org]. Image created with BioRender.com. b Representative image of thionin-stained 30 µm brain sections at 3 and 24 h post-PT stroke, and quantification of stroke infarct volume from stacked sections (sham n = 7, 3 h n = 7, 24 h n = 6). c. Representative images of 2 mm brain sections at intervals post-PT stroke, after intravenous injection of Evans blue (EB), and quantification of coverage (volume of EB-positive tissue; Sham n = 1/timepoint, PT n = 3/timepoint). d Weight of brains (minus cerebellum) at intervals post-stroke (n = 9–10). e A representative magnetic resonance imaging scan taken 24 h post-PT stroke in a live, isoflurane-anesthetized mouse. Red arrow indicates the area of edema (n = 4). Mice were assessed for sensory and motor function at 3 and 24 h post-PT stroke or sham control. Time taken to f detect or g remove an adhesive from the left and right paw was measured (sham n = 7, PT n = 9). Time mice were able to remain on a suspended wire at h 3 h and i 24 h post-stroke (n = 10). Graphs are presented as mean ± SD. A one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test was performed for analysis of multiple groups, and a Mann–Whitney test was performed on the wire hang test. *p  <  0.05, **p  <  0.01, ***p  <  0.001, ****p  <  0.0001, ns no significance.