Changes in 5'-nucleotidase activity in cerebral arteries of rats with experimental cerebral ischemia

Rats with experimental cerebral ischemia were prepared by clipping bilateral carotid arteries for 30 minutes after bilateral vertebral arteries of Wistar rats had been electrocauterized. The activity of 5'-nucleotidase was measured quantitatively in brain homogenate and also demonstrated histochemically. The activity of 5'-nucleotidase was detected mainly in the pia mater and slightly in the white matter, but not in the arterial wall of Wistar rats which received a sham operation. The enzyme activity was demonstrated also in the surrounding part of cerebral arteries in rats which showed a complete paralysis brought about by the occulusion of four vessels. The activity of 5'-nucleotidase in brain homogenate was significantly higher in rats with a complete paralysis (29.8 ± 5.2 nmoles/mg protein/min) than either in rats without paralysis (23.3 ± 3.8 nmoles/mg protein/min) or in rats with a sham operation (22.0± 4.1 nmoles/mg protein/min) (p