The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) on r-CBF (group A) and its protecting effect on focal ischaemic cell damage (group B). The pial arterial diameter and the r-CBF were measured with a width analyzer and with a laser Doppler flowmeter through a cat cranial window on the ectosylvian gyrus. The ischaemic area was measured histologically. We used intravenous injection of AChEI([-])(S)-N-ethyl-3-[(1-dimethyl- amino)ethyl]-N-methyl-phenylcarbamate, SDZENA 713, Sands Pharmacy) to block AChE. Twenty minutes after injection AChEI (0.6 mg/kg) the pial arteriole dilated 108.5 +/- 1.8% and the r-CBF increased 115.4 +/- 2.6%. The pial arteriole dilated maximally to 137.6 +/- 6.5% at 120 minutes after injection and the r-CBF increased maximally to 137.1 +/- 19.5% at 60 minutes after injection. The protecting effect was evaluated using cats and 1 hour of occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Twenty minutes after injection of AChEI, the pial arteriole dilated to 116.7 +/- 2.4% and the r-CBF increased to 111.9 +/- 2.6% significantly. During MCA occlusion the r-CBF decreased to 24.7-41.4% in group B and 25.1-32.6% in sham group (group C). The pial arteriole dilated 145.0-184.0% in group C and 150.7-171.6% in group B during MCA occlusion and 30 minutes after reperfusion the pial arteriole returned to 120.0 +/- 3.3% in group C and 123.4 +/- 11.3% in group B. There were no significant changes in the r-CBF and the vessel diameter between group B and C during the 2 hours after reperfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)