Treatment of rats with pioglitazone in the reperfusion phase of focal cerebral ischemia: A preclinical stroke trial

► Effects of pioglitazone on the recovery from ischemic stroke were studied. ► Post-ischemic pioglitazone treatment reduces infarct volume. ► Post-ischemic pioglitazone treatment improves neurological outcome. ► Systemic pioglitazone treatment protects neurons and promotes neuronal regeneration. ► Clinical stroke trials with pioglitazone are proposed.