An improved, stable and reliable distal middle cerebral artery occlusion model evaluated by microPET, microMRI, TTC staining, CV staining and behavioral test / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To create a stable and reliable model for cerebral ischemia.Methods (1)Distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) model: SD rats of 270-350 g in weight were anesthetized using isoflurane.Both common carotid arteries (CCA) were exposed and occluded for 30 min.Via a bone window between the left eye and ear, the exposed left middle cerebral artery was cauterized and cut during bilateral CCA occlusion.(2) Evaluation of the model: microPET study was performed at 10 h after surgery.microMRI scan were done at 24 h.TTC staining were done at 48 h.Behavioral tests, including vibrissaeelicited forelimb placement test, were done from day 2 to 60 after surgery.Tissue damage was evaluated using cresyl-violet staining Mortality was also observed.Results Infarction areas were 54.50% ± 3.15%(95% CI:49.49-59.51 ) using microPET scanning, 45.30% ± 2.35% (95% CI:42.94-47.86) using microMRI scanning, 43.39% ± 2.33% (95% CI:40.94-45.84)using TTC staining, and 30.10% ±2.22% (95% CI:28.05-32.15) using CV staining.The behavioral test scores were lower in the ischemic group than in the sham control group.This dMCAO model was successfully performed in all rats, and the mortality rate was 0.Conclusions Our results suggest that permanent dMCAO plus bilateral CCA occlusion for 30 min can produce a stable and reliable model suitable for research on cerebral ischemia.