Recently a histological study has demonstrated that intrastriatally injected endothelin-1 (ET-1) produced ischemia-like lesions in the neostriatum. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether intrastriatally injected ET-1 produces ischemic responses such as a decrease in the striatal blood flow and increases in extracellular lactate and dopamine levels in the neostriatum as seen in other models of ischemia. A small needle (for injection of ET-1), a microdialysis probe (for collecting extracellular substances), and a probe of a laser Doppler flowmeter (for measuring local cerebral blood flow) were implanted with their tips close to each other in the neostriatum of halothane-anesthetized rats. Focal administration of ET-1 (430 pmol) into the neostriatum resulted in a marked decrease in striatal blood flow without any change in systemic blood pressure. It also markedly increased extracellular lactate and dopamine levels, whereas it decreased pyruvate and dopamine metabolite levels. These changes agreed well with those known to be produced by ischemia. Intracerebral injection of ET-1 will therefore provide a new model for production of local ischemia in experimental animals.