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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Focal Cerebral Ischemia Model by Endovascular Suture Occlusion of the Middle Cerebral Artery in the Rat
Published on: February 5, 2011
[CT findings of ischemic infarction in relation to neuronal damage in rabbits]
Chang-Zheng Feng1, Yang-Bin Li, Li-Lian Tan
1Department of Radiology, Guangdong Women and Children's Hospital, Guangzhou 510010, China.
Objective:
To explore the early changes in CT findings of ischemic infarction in relation to neuronal damage in rabbits.
Methods:
Thirty-two rabbits were divided into control group and experiment groups and scanned with CT 2, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, and 36 h after ischemic cerebral infarction induced by PVA embolization of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), respectively. The brain specimen were stained with HE, Nissle and TUNEL techniques for pathological examination.
Results:
In stage I (2-8 h after MCA occlusion) by CT staging, the neurons exhibited ischemic change followed by cell edema. A small number of TUNEL-positive cells were found in the basal ganglia and cortex. In stage II (12-18 h after MCA occlusion), neuronal swelling and lysis were observed with greater number of TUNEL-positive neurons in the basal ganglia and cortex. In stage III ( 24-36 h after MCA obstruction), cerebral edema became obvious and ischemic cores were distinct, with numerous necrotic neurons seen and destruction of the cell structure. Numerous TUNEL-positive cells were seen in the ischemic penumbra and cortex.
Conclusion:
The damaged neurons after ischemic cerebral infarction showed varied morphology including cell edema, apoptosis, necrosis, and necrosis-apoptosis continuum. CT manifestations are strongly associated with the progression of ischemia and the pathological changes.
