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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Focal Cerebral Ischemia Model by Endovascular Suture Occlusion of the Middle Cerebral Artery in the Rat
Published on: February 5, 2011
Cerebral embolic ischemia in rats: correlation of stroke severity and functional deficit as important outcome
Max Nedelmann1, Thomas Wilhelm-Schwenkmezger, Beat Alessandri
1Department of Neurology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, Germany. mnedelma@uni-mainz.de
Abstract:
The embolic MCA occlusion model in rats is used for recanalisation studies in acute stroke. In addition to the determination of lesion size, the assessment of functional outcome may improve the value of this model. Male Wistar rats were submitted to MCA clot embolism or sham surgery. In order to achieve a larger variety of lesion volume, 2 subgroups (each 7 animals) were subjected to differently sized emboli (30 and 40 mm). Follow-up period was 6 days. Outcome assessment consisted of a test battery including parallel bar crossing, observation of behaviour in an open field and an 8-arm maze and a neurological score with ten different sensorimotor and coordinative items. Animals were perfusion-fixed on day 7 (blinded examination). For both subgroups, there were significant impairments with regard to performance on the Neuro score, parallel bar crossing and maze exploration. Improvement was only partial during the follow-up period. On follow-up day 6, there was still a significant correlation between total infarct volume and functional outcome on the Neuro score (R=0.80, p=0.0006) and the exploration behaviour in the maze (R=0.66, p=0.01). Application of emboli with a length of 40 mm caused more functional impairment and a more extended lesion volume compared with 30 mm. We present outcome tests that provide quantitative and objective tools to test functional impairment in rats following embolic stroke.
Insights
This study introduces objective functional outcome tests for the rat embolic middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion model. Larger emboli caused greater infarct volume and functional deficits in stroke research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Stroke Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- The middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion model in rats is crucial for studying acute stroke recanalization.
- Assessing functional outcomes alongside lesion size can enhance the model's utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a battery of functional outcome tests in a rat embolic MCA occlusion model.
- To correlate infarct volume with functional deficits and compare outcomes between different emboli sizes.
Main Methods:
- Male Wistar rats underwent MCA clot embolism or sham surgery, with subgroups receiving 30 mm or 40 mm emboli.
- A 6-day follow-up included behavioral tests (parallel bar crossing, open field, 8-arm maze) and a neurological score.
- Animals were perfusion-fixed on day 7 for blinded examination.
Main Results:
- Both emboli subgroups showed significant impairments in neurological score, bar crossing, and maze exploration, with only partial recovery.
- Significant correlations were observed between infarct volume and functional outcomes on day 6 (Neuro score: R=0.80, p=0.0006; maze: R=0.66, p=0.01).
- 40 mm emboli resulted in larger lesions and greater functional impairment compared to 30 mm emboli.
Conclusions:
- The presented outcome tests offer quantitative and objective measures for assessing functional impairment in embolic stroke rat models.
- This refined model allows for better characterization of stroke deficits and evaluation of recanalization therapies.
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