Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
The Application Of Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Ligation in the Mouse
Published on: July 25, 2011
The effects of middle cerebral artery occlusion on central nervous system apoptotic events in normal and diabetic
Mark Britton1, Jose Rafols, Sarah Alousi
1Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201-1928, USA.
Abstract:
Apoptosis and neural degeneration are characteristics of cerebral ischemia and brain damage. Diabetes is associated with worsening of brain damage following ischemic events. In this study, the authors characterize the influence of focal cerebral ischemia, induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion, on 2 indexes of apoptosis, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate nick end-labeling) staining and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry. Diabetes was induced in normal rats using streptozotocin and maintained for 5 to 6 weeks. The middle cerebral artery of both normal and diabetic rats was occluded and maintained from 24 or 48 hours. Sham-operated normal and diabetic animals served as controls. Following 24 to 48 hours of occlusion, the animals were sacrificed and the brains were removed, sectioned, and processed for TUNEL staining or caspase-3 immunohistochemistry. Middle cerebral artery occlusion in normal rats was associated with an increase in the number of both TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells in selected brain regions (hypothalamic preoptic area, piriform cortex, and parietal cortex) when compared to nonoccluded controls. Diabetic rats without occlusion showed significant increases in both TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells compared to normal controls. Middle cerebral artery occlusion in diabetic rats resulted in increases in TUNEL-positive as well as caspase-3-positive cells in selected regions, above those seen in nonoccluded diabetic rats. Both TUNEL staining and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of apoptotic cells in diabetic animals tended to be greatest in the preoptic area and parietal cortex. The authors conclude that focal cerebral ischemia is associated with a significant increase in apoptosis in nondiabetic rats, and that diabetes alone or diabetes plus focal ischemia are associated with significant increases in apoptotic cells.
Insights
Focal cerebral ischemia increases apoptosis in rats. Diabetes exacerbates this brain damage, with diabetic rats showing higher levels of cell death, both with and without ischemia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Cerebral ischemia and brain damage involve apoptosis and neural degeneration.
- Diabetes mellitus exacerbates brain damage following ischemic events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the influence of focal cerebral ischemia on apoptosis indexes.
- To investigate the combined effects of diabetes and ischemia on brain apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Focal cerebral ischemia induced via middle cerebral artery occlusion in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
- Apoptosis assessed using TUNEL staining and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry after 24-48 hours of occlusion.
- Sham-operated animals served as controls.
Main Results:
- Middle cerebral artery occlusion increased TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells in normal rats.
- Diabetic rats exhibited higher baseline levels of TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells compared to normal rats.
- Combined diabetes and ischemia led to the highest increases in apoptotic cells, particularly in the preoptic and parietal cortex.
Conclusions:
- Focal cerebral ischemia significantly increases apoptosis in nondiabetic rats.
- Diabetes alone or combined with focal ischemia significantly elevates apoptotic cell counts in the brain.
More Related Videos
09:11Performing Permanent Distal Middle Cerebral with Common Carotid Artery Occlusion in Aged Rats to Study Cortical Ischemia with Sustained Disability
Published on: February 23, 2016
04:38A Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Technique for Inducing Post-stroke Depression in Rats
Published on: May 22, 2019