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Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Two-vessel Occlusion Mouse Model of Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion
Published on: March 1, 2019
[Effect of reperfusion after local ischaemia on the M receptor density in rat brains]
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China. davidxuly@sina.com
Objective:
To study the dynamic changes in the density of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in different areas of rat brains during reperfusion after local ischaemia.
Methods:
The rat cerebral focal ischemia/reperfusion model after middle cerebral artery occlusion was made by the intraluminal suture method. Using 3H-QNB as radioligand, after binding with M receptor on the brain slice of the rat model, the brain samples were exposed on the hypersensitive film [H-3] to complete autoradiography, and the density of M receptor in different areas on the film of autoradiography was measured.
Results:
There were no changes in the M receptor density in 2 hours' ischaemia group and 2 hours' reperfusion group, M receptor densities in the area of occipital cortex (OC) and temporal cortex (TC) were observed to decrease significantly in 8 hours' reperfusion group, but the degree of decrease was lower than 24 hours' and 72 hours' reperfusion groups, there was significant decrease in the density of M receptor in the areas of caudate putamen (CP), frontal cortex (FC), TC, OC of the 24 hours' and 72 hours' reperfusion groups and no difference was found between these two groups, and the imaging of M receptor in the domains with decreased receptor was obvious.
Conclusions:
The quantity of M receptor did not change right after ischaemia or reperfusion. It decreased gradually after an interval of time; Imaging of the M receptor could assess the changes of the density of viable cholinergic neurons and be a marker of diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of brain ischaemia.
Insights
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor density in rat brains does not change immediately after ischemia or reperfusion. Receptor density gradually decreases over time, indicating potential for imaging to assess cholinergic neuron viability in brain ischemia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurochemistry
- Ischemia Research
Context:
- Focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion are critical events affecting brain function.
- Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M receptors) play vital roles in neurotransmission and cognitive processes.
- Understanding receptor dynamics post-ischemia is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies.
Purpose:
- To investigate the dynamic changes in M receptor density in various rat brain regions during reperfusion following focal cerebral ischemia.
- To assess the potential of M receptor imaging as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for brain ischemia.
Summary:
- A rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion.
- 3H-QNB radioligand and autoradiography were employed to measure M receptor density in brain slices.
- M receptor density remained unchanged immediately after ischemia/reperfusion but showed a gradual decrease in specific cortical and subcortical areas over 8, 24, and 72 hours of reperfusion.
Impact:
- M receptor density changes over time post-ischemia, suggesting a delayed neuronal response.
- Imaging M receptors can potentially evaluate the density of viable cholinergic neurons.
- This imaging technique may serve as a valuable marker for the diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of brain ischemia.

