N-methyl-D-aspartate and non-N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists in global cerebral ischemia

The hippocampal lesion induced by cerebral ischemia has several excitotoxic features. Denervation of the ischemia-vulnerable pyramidal cells has a protective effect. Because most synapses are glutamatergic, administration of glutamate antagonists after ischemia also could be protective. Growing evidence now indicates that non-N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists are more effective than N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists in complete global ischemia. One explanation offered is that ischemia may sensitize pyramidal neurons so that "normal" postischemic synaptic activity induces lethal damage.

Regional brain glucose metabolism and blood flow in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats

Brain regional glucose metabolism and regional blood flow were measured from autoradiographs by the uptake of [3H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose and [14C]iodoantipyrine in streptozocin-induced diabetic (STZ-D) rats. After 2 days of diabetes, glucose metabolism in the neocortex, basal ganglia, and white matter increased by 34, 37, and 8%, respectively, whereas blood flow was unchanged. After 4 mo, glucose metabolism in the same three regions was decreased by 32, 43, and 60%. This reduction was paralleled by a statistically nonsignificant reduction in blood flow in neocortex and basal ganglia. It is suggested that the decrease of brain glucose metabolism in STZ-D reflects increased ketone body oxidation and reduction of electrochemical work.

Postischemic glucose metabolism is modified in the hippocampal CA1 region depleted of excitatory input or pyramidal cells

During early postischemic reperfusion, the vulnerable brain regions (e.g., hippocampal CA1) show a relatively high deoxyglucose accumulation. To investigate if this accumulation is a marker for the later-occurring regional cell death and to determine its cellular localization, we studied the glucose metabolism in the CA1 region post ischemia after removal of its pre- or postsynaptic components. A 20-min period of cerebral ischemia was used for selective removal of the main postsynaptic component in CA1 pyramidal cells, and a bilateral intraventricular injection of kainic acid for removal of the majority of presynaptic axon terminals in this region (and postsynaptic terminals and cell bodies in CA3). The glucose metabolism was studied in these two lesion types and in sham-operated animals before and after a period of ischemia. There was a 60% reduction of metabolism after ischemia in the nonvulnerable regions, whereas CA1 and sometimes CA3 showed a columnar pattern of high and low metabolism. CA1 and CA3 devoid of the postsynaptic component showed increased postischemic metabolism. The latter was due to the presence of macrophages, as demonstrated by an enzyme histochemical stain for nonspecific esterase. CA1 with no presynaptic component showed a postischemic depression of the glucose metabolism similar to the rest of the brain. It is suggested that the level of the postischemic glucose metabolism in the ischemia-vulnerable regions is determined by the presence of both synaptic components. The presence of macrophages in a region gives rise to apparently normal values of glucose metabolism.

Possible role of zinc in the selective degeneration of dentate hilar neurons after cerebral ischemia in the adult rat

The fluorescent dye 6-methoxy-8-p-toluene sulfonamide quinoline (TSQ) was used to monitor the distribution of zinc in the hippocampus and fascia dentata of adult rats subjected to 20 min of cerebral ischemia. In normal brains TSQ stains only neuropil, in particular the mossy fiber layers in the dentate hilus (CA4) and CA3, but within 2 h after ischemia, TSQ-fluorescent cells were observed in the dentate hilus. At longer survival times TSQ-positive cells stained positively with acid fuchsin, a sign of cellular degeneration. At the same time a decrease in the TSQ fluorescence of the mossy fiber terminals in the dentate hilus (CA4) and the CA3 mossy fiber layer was noted. The observations suggest that zinc many play a role in the selective death of dentate hilar neurons after cerebral ischemia.

Temporal profile of interneuron and pyramidal cell protein synthesis in rat hippocampus following cerebral ischemia

Cellular protein synthesis was investigated in the rat hippocampus 2-100 h following 20 min of cerebral ischemia induced by four-vessel occlusion. [3H]-Phenylalanine was retrogradely infused through the external carotid artery for 30 min. This method limited the distribution of the tracer to one hemisphere and required 1/50th of the tracer amount used for intravenous tracer infusion. Cellular [3H]phenylalanine incorporation was examined in hematoxyline and eosin-stained sections coated with nuclear emulsion. A score for relative protein synthesis was estimated from counts of silver grains across neuron somata with undamaged morphology. Shortly after ischemia a generalized complete arrest of protein synthesis was observed. In CA1 pyramidal cells, this was followed by a transient incomplete regeneration (9-20 h) and later (46-100 h) persistent cessation of protein synthesis. By contrast protein synthesis in interneurons, CA3c pyramidal cells and granule cells recovered to preischemic levels 9-100 h after ischemia, as did the CA3ab pyramidal cells 46-100 h postischemia. Moreover, eosinophilic cell changes were seen in hilar and CA3c neurons at all postischemic stages and in CA1 pyramidal cells 46-72 h after ischemia. [3H]Phenylalanine incorporation was absent in neurons demonstrating eosinophilic cell changes. From the rapid recovery of protein synthesis in hippocampal interneurons, we conclude that changes in interneuronal protein synthesis per se are not involved in the pathophysiology of the delayed ischemic CA1 pyramidal cell death.

Ischemic damage in hippocampal CA1 is dependent on glutamate release and intact innervation from CA3

The removal of glutamatergic afferents to CA1 by destruction of the CA3 region is known to protect CA1 pyramidal cells against 10 min of transient global ischemia. To investigate further the pathogenetic significance of glutamate, we measured the release of glutamate in intact and CA3-lesioned CA1 hippocampal tissue. In intact CA1 hippocampal tissue, glutamate increased sixfold during ischemia; in the CA3-lesioned CA1 region, however, glutamate only increased 1.4-fold during ischemia. To assess the neurotoxic potential of the ischemia-induced release of glutamate, we injected the same concentration of glutamate into the CA1 region as is released during ischemia in normal, CA3-lesioned, and ischemic CA1 tissue. We found that this particular concentration of glutamate was sufficient to destroy CA1 pyramids in the vicinity of the injection site in intact and CA3-lesioned CA1 tissue when administered during control (non-ischemic) conditions. In contrast, the same amount injected during ischemia in the CA3-lesioned CA1 region destroyed pyramidal cells in a widely distributed zone around the injection site in the CA1 region. It is concluded that the ischemia-induced damage of pyramidal cells in CA1 is dependent on glutamate release and intact innervation from CA3.

Baclofen-induced, calcium-dependent stimulation of in vivo release of D-[3H]aspartate from rat hippocampus monitored by intracerebral microdialysis

The release of D-[3H]aspartate (used as a tracer for endogenous glutamate and aspartate) was studied at high K+ (100 mM) and under ischemia in rats implanted with 0.3 mm diameter dialysis tubing through the hippocampus. The effect on the D-[3H]aspartate release of the two gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]-pyridin-3-ol (THIP) and (+/-)-beta-(p-chlorophenyl)GABA (baclofen), which specifically activate GABAA and GABAB receptors, respectively, was studied. Initial experiments employing HPLC analysis showed a coincident increase in the amounts of glutamate, aspartate and the amount of radioactivity following introduction of K+ (100 mM) or a period of ischemia suggesting that the D-[3H]aspartate labels the transmitter pools of the two amino acids under the present experimental conditions. The presence of 10 mM baclofen or 10 mM THIP in the perfusion medium did not inhibit ischemia induced D-[3H]aspartate release. On the contrary, 10 mM baclofen alone (but not 0.1 or 1 mM) in the perfusion medium induced release of D-[3H]aspartate in a calcium dependent manner, whereas 10 mM THIP had no significant releasing effect.

Neural grafting to ischemic lesions of the adult rat hippocampus

The purpose of this study was to examine the structural and connective integration of developing hippocampal neurons grafted to ischemic lesions of the adult rat hippocampus. The 4-vessel occlusion model was used to cause transient cerebral ischemia which damages CA1 pyramidal cells in the dorsal hippocampus, but spares nonpyramidal neurons and afferents in the area. One week later, cell suspensions were made from the CA1 region of fetal (E18-20) rats and injected stereotaxically into the lesion. The recipient brains were examined 6 weeks to 6 months later for survival, morphology, and intrinsic and extrinsic connections of the grafts. The methods used included cell stains, histochemical staining for acetylcholinesterase (AChE), immunocytochemical staining for neuropeptides (cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin (SS), enkephalin (Enk) and an astrocytic marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), as well as tracing by retrograde axonal transport of fluorochromes and light and electron microscopy of anterograde axonal degeneration. The grafts survived well (80%) and were often quite large. They were well integrated in the lesioned host brain area, contained both pyramidal cells and neuropeptidergic neurons and displayed a near normal GFAP immunoreactivity for astrocytes. The latter contrasted the dense gliosis of the host ischemic lesion. Judged by the AChE staining the grafts were innervated by cholinergic host septohippocampal fibers. Ingrowth of host hippocampal commissural fibers was demonstrated by Fink-Heimer staining for degenerating nerve terminals following acute lesions of the hippocampal commissures. At the ultrastructural level degenerating, electron dense terminals of host commissural origin were found even deep inside the graft neuropil in synaptic contact with mainly dendritic spines. A transplant efferent connection to the host brain was demonstrated by retrograde fluorochrome tracing and consisted of a homotypic projection to more posterior levels of the ipsilateral host CA1 and subiculum. Minor abnormal, efferent projections to the host dentate molecular layer were shown in Timm staining. We conclude that fetal CA1 neurons grafted to one week old ischemic lesions of the dorsal CA1 in adult rats become structurally well incorporated and can establish nerve connections with the host brain.

Calcium-imaging with Fura-2 in isolated cerebral microvessels

Cerebral microvessels were isolated from rat hippocampus with a modified, mild collagenase digestion and loaded with the calcium fluoroprobe, Fura-2. Using a fluorescence microscope with quartz optics and an image analyser, it was possible to measure the intracellular concentration of free calcium ions [Ca2+]i in single microvessels for the first time. A resting level of (90 +/- 28) nmol/l (+/- SD, n = 24) was calculated which immediately rose after ionomycin application. The temporal resolution for [Ca2+]i of our set-up was 0.7 s. By image processing, sequences of digitized fluorescence images of single microvessels were colour-coded in terms of [Ca2+]i with a spatial resolution up to 1.5 microns (pixel size). Both the temporal and spatial resolution make our system suitable for investigation of calcium-mobilizing receptors of the blood-brain barrier.

Calcium accumulation by glutamate receptor activation is involved in hippocampal cell damage after ischemia

Rats exposed to 10 min of complete cerebral ischemia develop necrosis of the CA-1 region of the hippocampus after 2-3 days. We studied the involvement of synaptic transmission for this process by ablation of the afferent input (which is mainly glutamatergic) to CA1 by bilateral destruction of CA-3 neurons (Schafferotomi). The deafferentiation completely prevented the ischemic nerve cell destruction as revealed by histological studies after 6 days. The role of intracellular Ca++ overload was assessed by measurement of the interstitial Ca++ concentration. In control animals the interstitial Ca++ concentration decreases abruptly to 10% of the initial value 1.6 min after the onset of ischemia. The denervated hippocampi, however, showed no decrease during the 10 min of ischemia and hippocampi injected with 2-amino-5-phosphovalerate (APV), a competitive antagonist of the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, displayed a significantly reduced decrease (45% of the initial value) during ischemia. It is concluded that calcium influx via the glutamate-operated channels during the ischemic period is an important link in the development of ischemic brain cell damage.

Experimental cerebral ischemia: barbiturate resistant increase in regional glucose utilization

During the first hours after experimental occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) cerebral glucose utilization increases in the tissue adjacent to ischemic focus. To test whether the increased glucose utilization was a consequence of increased neuronal activity, the effect of preocclusion pentobarbital administration was investigated. Rats in barbiturate-induced coma showed a metabolic response to MCA occlusion similar to those seen with light halothane anesthesia. This indicates that the enhanced glucose utilization adjacent to the ischemic core is not a result of increased neuronal activity.

Early postischemic 45Ca accumulation in rat dentate hilus

Several studies have found postischemic regional accumulation of calcium to be time-dependent and coincident with the progression of ischemic cell change. In the most vulnerable cells in the hippocampus one would therefore expect to find a primary and specific early uptake of calcium after ischemia. Autoradiograms of 45Ca and 3H-inulin distribution were investigated before and 1 h after 20 min ischemia in the rat hippocampus. Two different methodological approaches were used for administration of 45Ca: (a) administration via microdialysis probes, (b) intraventricular injection. During control conditions the 45Ca autoradiograms showed variations in distribution volume in accordance with 3H-inulin determination of extracellular space size. One hour after ischemia a massive accumulation of 45Ca was found in the dentate hilus. No change in the distribution pattern of 3H-inulin could be demonstrated 1 h after ischemia. We suggest that 45Ca accumulation in dentate hilus 1 h after ischemia is a result of increased Ca2+ uptake before irreversible cell damage occurs and is not due to passive influx of calcium across a leaky plasma membrane.

The influence of intermittent versus continuous brain retractor pressure on regional cerebral blood flow and neuropathology in the rat

To evaluate the possible advantage of intermittent versus continuous brain retractor pressure (BRP) both regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurements and neuromorphological studies have been conducted in the rat. In the same rat model as used in this study it has previously been demonstrated that BRP of 30-40 mm Hg for 15 minutes or more caused severe decrease of rCBF and produced brain damage. In this study a BRP of 40 mm Hg intermittent for 5 and 7 minutes with intervals of 1 minute without BRP for a total of 29 and 31 minutes respectively did not produce brain damage. After BRP for 10 minutes brain damage has been observed. Concerning the rCBF it was demonstrated that a sufficient recirculation after BRP of 30 mm Hg was re-established within 1 minute (70-90 ml/100 g/min) and no significant changes of rCBF were observed in the first 10 minutes after discontinuation of the BRP. Judging from these results intermittent BRP has to be preferred to continuous BRP and the time threshold of the BRP is approximately 7 minutes. Sufficient rCBF is re-established quickly after ischaemia so only short intervals between BRP application periods are necessary.

Autoradiographic determination of cerebral glucose content, blood flow, and glucose utilization in focal ischemia of the rat brain: influence of the plasma glucose concentration

Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats. Cerebral blood flow measured with [14C]iodoantipyrine was severely reduced in the lateral portion of neostriatum. This area of dense ischemia was sharply demarcated against the surroundings. The adjacent cortex was perfused at one-third of normal, whereas blood flow in the medial neostriatum was only slightly reduced. This pattern of perfusion was independent of the plasma glucose concentration of the animal. In contrast, the glucose utilization calculated from the 2-[3H]deoxyglucose accumulation depended on the plasma glucose concentration. Enhanced glucose utilization was evident in the border areas surrounding the ischemic focus in normoglycemic animals. Neither acutely nor chronically diabetic animals had such an increase of metabolism in the borderzone. Moderately hyperglycemic rats had a narrow rim of enhanced glucose utilization immediately surrounding the ischemic core, whereas animals with plasma glucose values above 22 mmol/L had no such rim. In mild hypoglycemia (2-4 mmol/L), the glucose utilization was slightly enhanced in the border areas, but during severe hypoglycemia (less than 2.5 mmol/L), the glucose utilization declined gradually toward the ischemic core. Glucose content, and thereby the lumped constant (measured by 3-0-[14C]methylglucose) showed little regional variation, except in the ischemic core. These findings indicate that blood flow alterations after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats are not influenced by the plasma glucose utilizations. In contrast, glucose utilization depends on a combination of plasma glucose concentration and blood flow instead of blood flow per se.

Hyperglycaemia protects against neuronal injury around experimental brain infarcts

Regional glucose utilization was measured in the rat brain after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Normoglycaemic rat had increased glucose use in the cerebral cortex adjacent to the infarct. A fraction of the nerve cells were irreversibly injured in this region. In hyperglycaemic rats, the glucose metabolism remained normal and no nerve cell loss was found around the infarct. The findings indicate that hyperglycaemia protects against nerve cell injury in the areas next to experimental brain infarcts.

Saturable retention of vasopressin by hippocampus vessels in vivo, associated with inhibition of blood-brain transfer of large neutral amino acids

Vasopressin receptors have been reported in the endothelium of brain capillaries. The function of these receptors is not known. To test the prediction that vasopressin receptors in brain capillary endothelium affect amino acid transport across the blood-brain barrier and to assess the role of vasopressin transport across the cerebral vascular endothelium, we measured (a) the endothelial permeability to the large neutral amino acid leucine in the absence and presence of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and (b) the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to AVP relative to manitol. In brain regions protected by the blood-brain barrier, after circulation for 20 s, coinjection of leucine and AVP intravenously led to a decrease of leucine transport unrelated to changes of blood flow. The decrease was most pronounced in hippocampus (42%) and least pronounced in olfactory bulb and colliculi (17 and 19%, respectively). In the latter regions, the endothelial permeability to AVP did not significantly exceed that of mannitol. In hippocampus and in regions with no blood-brain barrier (pituitary and pineal glands), AVP retention in excess of mannitol retention was blocked by unlabeled AVP. The findings do not contradict the hypothesis of a role for AVP in the regulation of large neutral amino acid transfer into brain tissue.

A method for 14C and 3H double-label autoradiography

The present study describes and validates a 3H/14C double-label autoradiographic method in which separation of the labels was obtained by sequential film exposures to film types sensitive to 14C only and to both 3H and 14C, respectively. The error in assuming a pure 14C image on the first film was 2-3%. A linear subtraction equation was developed for calculation of the 3H activity expressed in 14C equivalents as the difference in tissue activity between the second and the first film exposure. The actual 3H activity in the tissue could be obtained by multiplying the result by 25 (14C to 3H conversion factor). The subtraction procedure was validated for absolute 14C and 3H activities of 100-1,300 nCi/g and 600-11,000 nCi/g, respectively, and for relative 3H/14C activities between 5 and 10. Self-absorption of 3H in white matter was corrected for by multiplication by 1.61 (self-absorption coefficient). This factor was close to unity for 14C.

Regional cerebral glucose phosphorylation and blood flow after insertion of a microdialysis fiber through the dorsal hippocampus in the rat

Local cerebral glucose metabolism (LCMRglc) and local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) were studied following implantation of a microdialysis fiber in rat dorsal hippocampus. Recovery time after implantation varied from 0 to 24 h. All rats showed pronounced disturbances in LCMRglc and LCBF during the first 2 h of implantation. The changes consisted of (a) a general decrease in blood flow and glucose phosphorylation and (b) small areas (spots) around the fiber with increased glucose phosphorylation and decreased blood flow. Animals allowed to recover for 24 h demonstrated a near normalization of LCMRglu and LCBF, and the focal disturbances (spots) of glucose phosphorylation and blood flow disappeared. The slight reduction in blood flow and glucose metabolism at this time must be accepted, because extension of the recovery period beyond 24 h may give interpretation problems due to the developing gliosis.

The influence of the profile of brain retractors on regional cerebral blood flow in the rat

Self-retaining brain retractors with different profiles have been constructed in order to decrease the risk of cerebral ischaemia during intracranial operations. Flat retractors are more easy to handle than curved, because the flat retractors can be bent into the desirable shape. To estimate the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) using retractors with three different profiles (flat, flat with rounded edges and curved) autoradiography with carbon-14 (14C) iodoantipyrine was performed in rats. After craniotomy over the parietal cortex lead weights with the three different profiles corresponding to 20 mm Hg of brain retractor pressure (BRP) were placed on the cortex for 15 minutes. rCBF (average values) in cortex beneath the flat retractors was 80 ml/100 gm/min (n = 10), for flat ones with rounded edges 90 ml/100 gm/min (n = 5) and for the curved retractors 75 ml/100 gm/min (n = 5). The differences were not significant. Even with a BRP of 30 mm Hg no differences were observed between flat (n = 3) and curved (n = 3) weights. In control animals craniotomy showed no influence on the rCBF (n = 3). No further risk for ischaemic nerve cell damage could be demonstrated by using the most easily-handled retractors, the flat ones, instead of those more or less curved.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient without other clinical manifestations of AIDS

The case is reported of a 46-year-old homosexual LAV/HTLV III seropositive man in whom progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy was the first and only clinical manifestation of AIDS. The severity and extension of neurological disturbances in AIDS are discussed.

Early loss of somatostatin neurons in dentate hilus after cerebral ischemia in the rat precedes CA-1 pyramidal cell loss

Somatostatin (SS)- and cholecystokinin (CCK)-immunopositive cell somata in the rat hippocampus were quantitated at day 1, 2, 3 and 4 after cerebral ischemia. A significant (P less than 0.01) 60%-80% loss of hilar and CA-3c SS neurons took place. No CCK neurons were lost. Damage to SS neurons was significant on the second postischemic day and preceded the delayed loss of CA-1 neurons. We speculate that loss of SS neurons, which presumably innervate the inhibitory GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acid) interneurons, may induce hyperactivity stimulating the Ca-1 neurons to death.

Cellular reactions to implantation of a microdialysis tube in the rat hippocampus

Microdialysis tubes, used for measurements of extracellular neurotransmitter concentrations, were implanted in rat dorsal hippocampus to study the adjacent tissue reaction. The brain was examined 1-60 days after the implantation. Within the first 2 days, normal neuropil and only occasional hemorrhage surrounded the microdialysis tube. Three days following the implantation astrocytes close to the dialysis tube, hypertrophied. Hypertrophic astrocyte processes invaded the spongy fiber wall. There was no increase in the number of astrocytes. Fourteen days after the fiber insertion layers of reticulin-positive fibers separated astrocytes and the remaining neuropil from the fiber wall. Late tissue changes (1 and 2 months) consisted of collagen deposits and occasional granuloma formation. These results can be used to predict the optimal time for commencing microdialysis after the fiber implantation.

Focal ischemia of the rat brain, with special reference to the influence of plasma glucose concentration

Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery in hypoglycemic, normoglycemic, as well as in acute and chronic diabetic rats. The brain damage was studied after 4 days. The volume of infarction was decreased in hypoglycemia (29 +/- 19 mm3 (mean +/- SD) versus 58 +/- 35 mm3, P less than 0.0046), unaltered in acute diabetes (61 +/- 45 mm3), and increased in chronic diabetes (91 +/- 22 mm3, P less than 0.0463). The cortex adjacent to the infarct showed selective neuronal injury affecting the cortical layers 2 and 3. The damage was enhanced by hypoglycemia and prevented in most of the diabetic animals. The findings indicate that different mechanisms cause infarction and selective neuronal injury outside infarcts, but that both are influenced by the plasma glucose concentration.

Removal of the entorhinal cortex protects hippocampal CA-1 neurons from ischemic damage

The excitatory (glutamatergic) innervation seems to determine a nerve cells vulnerability to complete, transient ischemia. Interruption of the excitatory afferents to the hippocampus by removal of the entorhinal cortex prior to ischemia allows examination of this hypothesis. Groups of adult male Wistar rats were subjected to 20 min of ischemia (four-vessel occlusion) 4 days following a sham procedure, unilateral or bilateral entorhinotomy. CA-1 pyramidal cell survival following ischemia was assessed by light microscopic examination (cell counts) 4 days after ischemia. Compared to control animals unilateral entorhinotomy protected 50% of the CA-1 pyramidal neurons ipsilateral to the lesion, whereas bilateral entorhinotomy resulted in 84% protection. The pathophysiology of ischemic brain damage is discussed, and it is suggested that the protection of CA-1 pyramidal neurons after entorhinotomy is due to interruption of the input to the dentate granule cells, which forms a link in the trisynaptic pathway from the entorhinal cortex to the CA-1.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage in the rat: cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism during the late phase of cerebral vasospasm

A double-isotope technique for the simultaneous measurement of CBF and CMRglu was applied to a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model in the rat. Cisternal injection of 0.07 ml blood caused a rather uniform 20% reduction in CBF together with an increase in glucose utilization of 30% during the late phase of vasospasm. In one-third of the SAH animals, there were focal areas where the flow was lowered to 30% of the control values and the glucose uptake increased to approximately 250% of control. We suggest that blood in the subarachnoid space via a neural mechanism induces the global flow and metabolic changes, and that the foci are caused by vasospasm superimposed on the global flow and metabolic changes. In the double-isotope autoradiographic technique, [14C]iodoantipyrine and [3H]deoxyglucose were used for CBF and CMRglu measurements, respectively, in the same animal. In half of the sections, the [14C]iodoantipyrine was extracted using 2,2-dimethoxypropane before the section was placed on a 3H- and 14C-sensitive film. The other sections were placed on x-ray film with an emulsion insensitive to 3H. The validity of the double-isotope method was tested by comparing the data with those obtained in animals receiving a single isotope. The CBF and metabolic values obtained in the two groups were similar.