Cellular level of purine compounds in ischemic gerbil brain by high performance liquid chromatography

The cellular level of AtP and related compounds in ischemic gerbil brain was investigated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Brain samples were obtained in situ following ligation of the common carotid artery. AMP and ADP peaks in the brain extracts in the ischemic group became much larger whereas the ATP peak decreased dramatically. The most striking finding was an extensive increase of adenosine: 50-100 fold. The levels of inosine and hypoxanthine also increased greatly in typical symptomatic gerbil.