ENDOTHELIN-1 INDUCED LESIONS OF THE FRONTOPARIETAL CORTEX OF THE RAT - A POSSIBLE MODEL OF FOCAL CORTICAL ISCHEMIA

ENDOTHELIN 1 (ET-1) was unilaterally applied onto the surface of the d orsal frontoparietal cortex of the rat. Cortical blood flow measuremen ts using laser-Doppler flowmetry demonstrated dose-dependent reduction s of frontoparietal cortical blood flow. Histological analysis demonst rated dose-related lesions and the time course was followed using MRI. The lesions appear to be associated with a large penumbra area indica ted by morphological characteristics. Thus, cortical surface exposure to ET-1 may produce graded lesions of the frontoparietal cortex relate d to local ischemia.