Figure 2: Results of behavioral tests before and after permanent MCAO (▼). SH rats received 1x10 6 cells enriched or depleted from CD34 + cells by magnetic bead separation ( n =18 for CD34 + cell treatment; n =12 for CD34 - cell treatment) or 1 ml of PBS for control ( n =18) 8 to 10 hours following ischemia. Behavioral tests (RotaRod, A; beam walk, B and C) and the modified neurological severity score (D) were performed during the phase of conditioning, before (Base line) and after MCAO throughout the evaluation phase. CD34 + and CD34 - treated animals showed statistically significant improvement of neurological deficits in the plateau phase starting at day 11 ( P <0.0001 in all test arrays). For statistical details in the early phase (D2-D9) see description in the text. Data are presented as absolute values ± SD.