Effect of early revascularization on the ischaemic rat brain

Rat brains made regionally ischaemic by manipulation of the large vessels in the neck were revascularized up to 4 hours later. Mortality rates, patterns of ink staining and the water content of the brains were studied. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy was carried out. The results showed that whilst revascularization did not reperfuse areas of the brain that had been subjected to very low levels of perfusion, it did reperfuse other areas with higher perfusion and, in so doing, prevented the extension of the ischaemic process into them.