This study explores the influence of severe lactic acidosis in the ischemic rat brain on postischemic recovery of the tissue energy state and neurophysiological parameters. Severe incomplete brain ischemia (cerebral blood flow below 5% of normal) was induced by bilateral carotid artery clamping combined with hypovolemic hypotension. We varied the production of lactate in the tissue by manipulating the blood glucose concentrations. A 30-min period of incomplete ischemia induced in food-deprived animals caused lactate to accumulate to 15-16 mumol g-1 in cortical tissue. Upon recirculation these animals showed: (1) a considerable recovery of the cortical energy state as evaluated from the tissue concentrations of phosphocreatine, ATP, ADP, and AMP; and (2) return of spontaneous electrocortical activity as well as of somatosensory evoked response (SER). In contrast, administration of glucose to food-deprived animals prior to ischemia caused an increase in tissue lactate concentration to about 35 mumol g-1. These animals did not recover energy balance in the tissue and neurophysiological functions did not return. In other experiments the production of lactate during 30 min of complete compression ischemia was increased from about 12 mumol g-1 (normoglycemic animals) to 20-30 mumol g-1 by preischemic hyperglycemia and, in separate animals, combined hypercapnia. The recovery of the cortical energy state upon recirculation was significantly poorer in hyperglycemic animals. It is concluded that a high degree of tissue lactic acidosis during brain ischemia impairs postischemic recovery and that different degrees of tissue lactic acidosis may explain why severe incomplete ischemia, in certain experimental models, is more deleterious than complete brain ischemia.