Cortical neuronal function during ischemia. Effects of occlusion of one middle cerebral artery on single-unit activity in cats.

To assess the effects of ischemia on neuronal function, the action potentials of 261 individual cortical neurons were recorded extracellulary and related to regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by hydrogen clearance in 19 cats, seven of which had the left middle cerebral artery occluded during a recording. The onset of ischemia could be associated with transient increases of activity, including "seizure discharges," as well as cessation of activity. No activity was noted at CBF less than 0.18 ml/gm/min; at higher (but ischemic) values for CBF, abnormal patterns of activity frequently were recorded. One neuron recovered function after cessation in association with an increase of CBF, indicating a potential for the restoration of function of ischemic neurons by effective therapeutic measures.