The effect of unilateral, incomplete cerebral ischemia on CBF, unidirectional flux of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and sodium, and number of perfused capillaries during ischemia and reperfusion was measured in the cortex of gerbils with symptomatic ischemia. Three hours of unilateral carotid occlusion reduced the CBF to the ipsilateral cortex by 81%, with a smaller 30% decrease in the contralateral cortex. Following 11 min of reperfusion, CBF in the ipsilateral cortex returned to the preischemic value, while the contralateral blood flow decreased to 50% of control. The transfer constants for AIB and sodium in the ipsilateral cortex were reduced by 67 and 53%, respectively, after 3 h of ischemia, with no change in the contralateral cortex. The transfer constant for AIB remained decreased by 48% during the first 20 min of reperfusion, while that for sodium returned to its control value. The number of perfused capillaries was reduced 54% by 3 h of ischemia and remained decreased by 20% after 11 min of reperfusion. These data indicate that 3 h of unilateral carotid occlusion reduces the number of perfused capillaries in the ipsilateral cortex during the ischemic period. Further, the early reperfusion phase is characterized by a mismatch between capillary perfusion and CBF. Finally, early in the postischemic phase, sodium transport undergoes a selective stimulation, probably as a result of stimulation of ion transport.