Stroke in rats produced by carotid injection of sodium arachidonate.

Unilateral cerebrovascular occlusion was produced in heparinized rats within 60 seconds after an injection of sodium arachidonate (in doses exceeding 0.45 milligram per kilogram) into the carotid artery. Electroencephalographic activity over the affected cerebral hemisphere was suppressed, and cerebral blood flow decreased by half. Microscopic examination revealed complete obstruction of the hemispheric microcirculation by platelet aggregates.