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Intraluminal Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) Model for Ischemic Stroke with Laser Doppler Flowmetry Guidance in Mice
Published on: May 8, 2011
Ideal suture diameter is critical for consistent middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice
Kudret Türeyen1, Raghu Vemuganti, Kurt A Sailor
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Objective:
The use of transgenic and knockout mice has led to a need for a consistent model of mouse transient focal cerebral ischemia. In a great majority of the published mouse middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion studies, the methods indicated the type of intraluminal suture used without indicating the actual suture diameter after modification. We attempted to determine the ideal suture diameter to produce consistent occlusion in the MCA of adult male C57BL/6 mice.
Methods:
Suture tips were coated to a depth 4 mm with glue, and 6-0 sutures of eight different, precisely measured diameters were produced. The coated 6-0 sutures in different diameters were introduced 10 mm into the internal carotid artery via the external carotid artery of the mice to produce MCA occlusion (n = 40; five animals for each diameter), and the mice (22-24 g) were transaortically perfused with saline. The base of the brain was exposed, and photographs of the vessels were obtained before and after transaortic injection of Evans blue dye to determine the consistency of MCA occlusion for each suture diameter. Cerebral blood flow was measured 10 minutes before occlusion and 20 minutes after reperfusion, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining was performed to demonstrate the ischemic damage in additional animals with 110-microm (n = 5) and 180-microm (n = 8) diameter sutures.
Results:
Sutures measuring 170 microm and 180 microm in diameter consistently occluded the MCA of C57BL/6 mice. In addition, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining demonstrated consistent infarction with 180-microm diameter sutures. The infarct volume was 36.3 +/- 4.2 mm3.
Conclusion:
Small changes in the diameter of the occlusion suture tip affect consistency in the mouse MCA occlusion model.
Insights
Determining the ideal suture diameter is crucial for consistent mouse middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion models. Sutures of 170-180 micrometers provide reliable MCA occlusion and infarction in C57BL/6 mice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Models
- Cerebrovascular Research
Background:
- Transgenic and knockout mice necessitate consistent models for transient focal cerebral ischemia.
- Published mouse middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion studies often lack specific suture diameter details, impacting reproducibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the optimal suture diameter for achieving consistent MCA occlusion in adult male C57BL/6 mice.
- To improve the reliability of the mouse MCA occlusion model for research purposes.
Main Methods:
- Eight different diameters of 6-0 sutures were prepared with glued tips.
- Sutures were inserted into the internal carotid artery to occlude the MCA in 40 mice.
- Vessel occlusion was assessed using Evans blue dye, and infarcts were evaluated with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining.
Main Results:
- Sutures with diameters of 170 and 180 micrometers consistently occluded the MCA.
- 180-micrometer sutures resulted in consistent infarction, with an average infarct volume of 36.3 +/- 4.2 mm3.
- Cerebral blood flow measurements were taken before occlusion and after reperfusion.
Conclusions:
- Minor variations in suture diameter significantly impact the consistency of the mouse MCA occlusion model.
- Precise control of suture diameter is essential for reproducible results in MCA occlusion studies.
