Corpus callosum and experimental stroke: studies in callosotomized rats and acallosal mice.

Background And Purpose: Interhemispheric inhibition via the corpus callosum has been proposed as an exacerbating factor in outcome from stroke.

Methods: We measured infarct volume and behavioral outcome after middle cerebral artery occlusion in callosotomized rats and acallosal mice.

Results: Neither callosotomy in rats nor callosal agenesis in mice improved infarct volume or behavioral outcome after middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Conclusions: These findings argue against a role for transcallosal projections in exacerbating focal cerebral ischemia.