Topographic profile of reperfusion into MCA territory following endothelin-1-induced transient focal cerebral ischaemia

This study examines the topographic profile of reperfusion into ischaemic tissue following reversible middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Autoradiographic images of both ischaemia and reperfusion were prepared from brain sections following transient ischaemia induced by endothelin-l application to the exposed MCA in anaesthetised rats. Blood flow changes were assessed using double tracer autoradiography with Tc-99m-exametazime during ischaemia (5 min) and C-14-iodoantipyrine during reperfusion (2 h). Following a significant ischaemic insult, reperfusion was relatively homogeneous within MCA territory but incomplete at 2 h. There was evidence for differential reperfusion in the cortex and caudate nucleus, and increased collateral supply from the anterior cerebral artery.