Summary:The effects of complete ischemia on cerebral arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism were investigated in the isolated perfused rat brain. During 12.5 min of isch emia, AA, 5-hydroxy-6,8, 11, 14-eicosatetraenoic acid, and 15-hydroxy-5 ,8,11, 13-eicosatetraenoic acid increased 129-, 4-, and 10-fold, respectively, while subsequent reperfusion for 30 min resulted in normalized levels inde pendently of the duration of preceding ischemia. Prosta glandin (PG) F2u, PGE2, PGD2, 6-keto-PGF,u, and thromboxane (Tx) B2 remained at preischemic levels dur ing 12.5 min of complete ischemia. However, at the end of subsequent reperfusion for 30 min, the levels of the