The spleen contributes to neurodegeneration after MCAO.
Splenectomy following MCAO reduced infarct size in rats.
Splenectomy following MCAO reduced the levels of TLR4 and NF-κB expression in the ischemic hemisphere.
Splenectomy following MCAO reduced the cellular apoptosis in the ischemic hemisphere.
We proposed that the spleen contributes to neurodegeneration after stroke by regulating the TLR4–NF-κB signaling pathway.