Cerebral ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion induced cerebral injury results in the accumulation of free fatty acids and diacylglycerols as a result of increased activity of phospholipases A and C. We have evaluated the incorporation of 14C arachidonic acid into the whole brain and synaptoneurosomes, the effect of cerebral ischemia on 14C incorporation, and the effect of a PAF antagonist (BN 52021) on cerebral blood flow, free fatty acids, diacylglycerols, and polyphosphoinositides. Peak incorporation of 14C arachidonic acid into the whole brain and synaptoneurosomal fractions occurred 30 minutes following intraventricular injection. Peak incorporation into cerebellar synaptoneurosomal fractions was at 60 minutes following intraventricular injection. Turnover in phospholipid pools was similar in the whole brain and synaptoneurosomes (PI greater than PC greater than PE). Considering phosphatidylinositol content in the gerbil brain, the specific activity of 14C arachidonic acid was 22 times greater in PI than PC. Five minutes of bilateral carotid artery ligation resulted in decreased phosphatidylinositol and polyphosphoinositols. Bilateral carotid artery ligation resulted in systemic arterial hypertension, complete forebrain ischemia (CBF less than 7 ml/100 gm/min) and a 20% to 50% reduction in midbrain CBF. Reperfusion resulted in cerebral reactive hyperemia and systemic hypotension. BN 52021 inhibited the maturation of ischemia-reperfusion induced cerebral injury. Cerebral blood flow was improved. Free fatty acids were decreased, suggesting inhibition of phospholipase A activity. Decreased DAG pools with increased PIP2 pools suggest a possible coinhibition of phospholipase C.