Elevated tissue endothelin content during focal cerebral ischemia in the rat

To study the involvement of endogenous endothelin (ET) in the development of cerebral ischemia, we measured by radioimmunoassay brain tissue content of immunoreactive (ir)-ET-1 in a model of focal cerebral ischemia in the rat. Permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (OMCA) was accompanied after 24 h by a progressive but marked elevation of ir-ET-1 in the ipsilateral compared with the contralateral hemisphere (119% after 24 h; 184% after 48 h and 459% after 72 h). The pial vessels and the arteries of the circle of Willis did not respond with ir-ET-1 production. The increase in ir-ET-1 content in tissues was first observed in the caudate nucleus (after 24 h) and later in the cortex (after 48 h), which was more variably injured. Transient ischemia followed by recirculation led to a slight increase of ir-ET-1, which also appeared after 24 h of recirculation. This study demonstrates that during permanent OMCA, the tissue content of ir-ET-1 markedly and progressively increases, whereas less severe ischemia (transient) is accompanied by a modest elevation of ir-ET-1 levels. These results suggest that endogenous ir-ET-1 production is involved in the development and the severity of ischemic injury.