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.