Comparison of neuronal responses to experimental ischemia in gerbil and rat hippocampal slices.

The present study utilized in vitro gerbil and rat hippocampal slices to compare responses to experimental ischemia without species differences in the cerebrovasculature as a variable. Ischemic depolarization occurred faster in the gerbil (2.53 +/- 0.05 min) than in the rat (4.59 +/- 1.1 min). These results indicate that the gerbil's greater propensity to neuronal damage following short ischemic periods may be due to greater sensitivity of the gerbil brain itself.