PLAT and ischemic stroke: Alteplase, a thrombolytic, is administered to ischaemic stroke patients to restore blood flow, but only a minority of patients benefit from this therapeutic strategy.13 Given that endogenous tPA plays a role in neurovascular coupling through the nitric oxide pathway,14 we hypothesised that exogenous rtPA, given as alteplase, may alter neurovascular coupling during the first hour of reperfusion following MCAO.