Coronal sections of the ventral mesencephalon showing GAD67-immunoreactivity (GAD-ir) in substantia nigra (SN) at day 56 after 12.5 minutes of global ischemia. The dense GAD-ir is in SN. (a) GAD-ir fiber network is especially prominent in substantia nigra par reticulata (SNR), pars compata (SNC), and pars lateralis (SNL) in sham rats. (b) higher magnification of boxed area in (a). The processes and the cell body are encircled by GAD67⁺ puncta. GAD-ir puncta are closely apposed to GAD-ir dendrites and outline a cell body. Note the GAD67⁺ puncta in contact with the soma and proximal dendrites leaving the cell body. (c)–(f) distribution of GAD-ir from 4 different ischemia rats. (g)-(h) Higher magnification of boxed areas in (c) and (f), respectively. As compare, to sham rats, ischemic rats showed an evident reduction of GAD-ir in SN: the number and density of GAD-puncta are decreased. (b), (g), and (h) are counterstained by hematoxylin.