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Updated: Aug 25, 2026
Focal Cerebral Ischemia Model by Endovascular Suture Occlusion of the Middle Cerebral Artery in the Rat
Published on: February 5, 2011
Evaluation of murine models of permanent focal cerebral ischemia
Gang-ming Xi1, Hua-qiao Wang, Guo-hou He
1Department of Neurology, Taihe Hospital, Yunyang Medical College, Shiyan 442000, China.
Background:
To date murine models of permanent focal cerebral ischemia have not been well characterized. The purposes of this paper were to compare three different permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) models with or without craniectomy, and to identify an ideal mouse model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia.
Methods:
Experiments were performed on 45 healthy adult male Kunming mice, weighing 28 to 42 g. The animals were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 15 in every group) based on surgical procedure: MCAo via the external carotid artery (ECA), MCAo via the common carotid artery (CCA), and direct ligation of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Each day post-ischemia, the animals were scored using an eight-grade neurological function scale, and mortality was also recorded. Seven days post-ischemia, the brains were removed for lesion size determination using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Correlation analysis of lesion volume and neurological score was carried out.
Results:
Mortality in the group receiving direct MCA ligation was lowest among the three groups, and there was a significant difference between the direct MCA ligation group and the two intraluminal occlusion groups (P < 0.05). In all groups, neurological scores gradually increased with prolongation of ischemic duration, peaking after two days, then gradually decreasing. In the direct MCA ligation group, however, neurological scores were relatively stable. There was a significant correlation between infarct volume and neurological score 7 days after MCAo in every group (all r > 0.7, P < 0.05), suggesting good reproducibility of lesion volume in the three groups, but the infarct volume was more constant in the direct MCA ligation group.
Conclusion:
The direct ligation model of MCAo provides an optimal means of studying permanent focal cerebral ischemia, and is preferable to the models using intraluminal sutures.
Insights
Direct middle cerebral artery ligation offers the best mouse model for permanent focal cerebral ischemia research. This method provides consistent infarct volumes and stable neurological scores, outperforming intraluminal occlusion techniques.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cerebrovascular Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Permanent focal cerebral ischemia models in mice are not well-characterized.
- Existing models lack standardization for reliable research.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare three permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) models.
- Identify the optimal mouse model for permanent focal cerebral ischemia research.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 45 mice across three MCAo groups: external carotid artery (ECA), common carotid artery (CCA), and direct middle cerebral artery (MCA) ligation.
- Assessed neurological function daily and recorded mortality.
- Determined infarct volume via triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining 7 days post-ischemia.
Main Results:
- Direct MCA ligation showed significantly lower mortality compared to ECA and CCA methods (P < 0.05).
- Neurological scores were more stable in the direct MCA ligation group.
- All groups demonstrated a significant correlation between infarct volume and neurological score (r > 0.7, P < 0.05), with direct ligation showing more constant infarct volumes.
Conclusions:
- Direct MCA ligation is the optimal method for studying permanent focal cerebral ischemia in mice.
- This model offers superior reproducibility and stability over intraluminal suture techniques.
