Time window of ischemia/reperfusion of middle cerebral artery in rats

AIM To investigate the relationship between time of cerebral ischemia and extent of infarct area. METHODS The rat model of middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemia was used for evaluate time of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and the infarct sizes were analyzed with image analysis system. RESULTS The infarct size increased with increasing MCA occlusion time, up to 4 h, when the infarct size as extensive as those observed following 24 h permanent MCA occlusion. CONCLUSION Reperfusion beyond the time window of cerebral ischemia can not reduce infarct size.