Nrf2-driven genes in the brain and brain microvessels are induced by systemic sulforaphane administration. A , Left, Sulforaphane increases the mRNA level of Nrf2-driven genes in the parietal cortex from both uninjured and injured animals. Sulforaphane (5 mg/kg) was administered 6 h after injury and tissue harvested for mRNA analysis at 24 h. A , Right, Sulforaphane (SUL) increases mRNA levels of Nrf2-driven genes in purified brain microvessels from uninjured animals. B , Representative confocal images showing enhanced HO-1 immunoreactivity (green) in brain microvessels (indicated by vWF immunoreactivity; red) 18 h after 5 mg/kg sulforaphane treatment. C , Sulforaphane at 5 mg/kg, but not 1 mg/kg, increases GSTα3 mRNA level in cortical tissue. D , A dose-dependent increase in NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 enzymatic activity is observed 18 h after sulforaphane treatment. E , EMSA and shift-Western assays showing the specificity and binding of Nrf2 to the decoy (ARE), but not the mutant (AREmut), oligonucleotide. NE, Nuclear extract. F , Summary data showing that intracerebroventricular infusion of the decoy oligonucleotide (ARE), but not the mutated oligonucleotide (AREmut), blocked the induction of GSTα3 mRNA 18 h after administration of 5 mg/kg sulforaphane in uninjured animals. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05. Scale bars, 50 μm.