The vulnerability of gerbils to focal cerebral ischemia. Neurological signs and regional biochemical changes after ischemia and recirculation.

Gerbils of both sexes were used to study the effects of 30-min ischemia and subsequent recirculation for 4 and 8 days. The mortality rate was 9% during ischemia and 34% in the recirculation period. No close correlation was found between the extent of metabolic changes and the severity of clinical signs after ischemia. Gerbils exhibited severe clinical signs with metabolic patterns of severe hypoxic damage, but with only slight biochemical changes as well, stressing the necessity of detailed examination in regional metabolic studies. According to planimetrical evaluation the most sensitive indicator of ischemic damage was alteration in pH. Decrease in pH without changes in ATP and NADH was associated with severe clinical signs. Biochemical changes were demonstrated after recirculation in some gerbils having severe clinical signs at the end of the ischemic period. The changes in pH and potassium found 8 days after the ischemic insult stress that a 30-min focal ischemia might have long lasting, perhaps irreversible consequences.