Acute Cerebral Ischaemia Background

The pathophysiology of various types of cerebral ischaemia are very different and it is important to recognize that neuropathological quantification of ischaemic cell change and infarct size is the most reliable end point against which to judge therapeutic efficacy. The exact duration of ischaemia and pattern of reperfusion is critical to interpretation—there is now considerable evidence that, for example, the development of post-ischaemic oedema depends upon the severity of cerebral ischaemia (lannotti and Hoff 1983, Avery et al. 1984, Bell et al. 1985). The interaction between 

Recently, Moskowitz et al. (1984) have shown that 6-sulfidopeptide-containing leukotriene-like immunoreactivity is synthesized in gerbil forebrains after bilateral common carotid occlusion and reperfusion. No detectable activity was found in brain regions remote from the zone of ischaemia (forebrain) nor were cerebral arteries a major source of such leukotriene-like biosynthesis. 

Indomethacin, given 45 minutes before induction of ischaemia induced in rabbits by a combination of vascular occlusion and systemic hypoten- 

---