Incomplete forebrain ischemia of 15-min duration was induced in rats made hyperglycemic or moderately hypoglycemic prior to ischemia. Tissue CO2 tension, CO2 content, labile tissue metabolites, and extracellular pH (pHe) were measured, and intracellular pH (pHi) was derived by calculation on the assumption that cerebral intracellular fluids can be lumped into one space. In hypoglycemic animals, mean tissue lactate content increased from 2 to 10 mumol g-1. Tissue CO2 content was virtually unchanged and the CO2 tension increased from approximately 50 to approximately 145 mm Hg. In hyperglycemic animals, tissue lactate content rose to 20 mumol g-1, and the CO2 content decreased by 25%, demonstrating that some CO2 was lost to the blood supplied by the remaining perfusion. Accordingly, tissue CO2 tension did not rise above 200 mm Hg. pHe was reduced in proportion to the amount of lactate accumulated, the values obtained in hypo- and hyperglycemic animals showing relatively little scatter (6.76 +/- 0.03 and 6.25 +/- 0.04, respectively). In hypoglycemic animals the extracellular HCO-3 concentration was virtually unchanged, demonstrating that any influx of lactic acid from the cells must have been accompanied by H+ efflux and/or HCO-3 influx via independent routes. In hyperglycemic animals [HCO-3]e fell by greater than 10 mumol ml-1. In both groups [HCO-3]e was reduced during the first 5 min of recovery. Recovery of pHe was slower in hyper- than in hypoglycemic animals. During ischemia calculated pHi fell to 6.37 +/- 0.04 and 5.95 +/- 0.06 in hypo- and hyperglycemic animals, respectively. Differences in pHi were maintained for the first 15 min of recovery, but in both hypo- and hyperglycemic animals pHi had normalized after 30 min. It is concluded that preischemic hyperglycemia leads to a more pronounced intra- and extracellular acidosis than normo- and hypoglycemia, an acidosis that also resolves more slowly during recirculation.