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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Photothrombotic Ischemia: A Minimally Invasive and Reproducible Photochemical Cortical Lesion Model for Mouse Stroke Studies
Published on: June 9, 2013
Photochemically induced cerebral ischemia in a mouse model
Jung-Kil Lee1, Min-Sung Park, Yeon-Seong Kim
1Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju 501-757, South Korea. jkl@chonnam.ac.kr <jkl@chonnam.ac.kr>
Background:
MCAO has been widely used to produce ischemic brain lesions. The lesions induced by MCAO tend to be variable in size because of the variance in the collateral blood supply found in the mouse brain.
Methods:
We modified the rat photothrombosis model for use in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia by photothrombosis of cortical microvessels. Cerebral infarction was produced by intraperitoneal injection of rose bengal, a photosensitive dye, and by focal illumination through the skull. Motor impairment was assessed by the accelerating rotarod and staircase tests. The brain was perfusion fixed for histologic determination of infarct volume 4 weeks after stroke.
Results:
The lesion was located in the frontal and parietal cortex and the underlying white matter was partly affected. A relatively constant infarct volume was achieved 1 month after photothrombosis. The presence of the photothrombotic lesion significantly impaired the motor performance as measured by the rotarod and staircase tests. Our findings show that photothrombotic infarction in mice is highly reproducible in size and location.
Conclusion:
This procedure can provide a simple model of cerebral infarction for a unilateral motor cortex lesion. In addition, it can provide a suitable model for the study of potential neuroprotective and therapeutic agents in human stroke.
Insights
This study presents a reproducible photothrombosis model for inducing focal cerebral ischemia in mice. This method creates consistent infarcts, aiding research into neuroprotective agents for stroke.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cerebrovascular Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) is a common method for inducing ischemic brain lesions.
- MCAO-induced lesions exhibit variability in size due to differences in collateral blood supply in mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To adapt the rat photothrombosis model for use in mice.
- To establish a reproducible method for creating focal cerebral infarction in mice.
- To evaluate motor function deficits following photothrombotic stroke.
Main Methods:
- Male C57BL/6 mice underwent photothrombosis of cortical microvessels using rose bengal dye and focal illumination.
- Motor impairment was assessed using the accelerating rotarod and staircase tests.
- Infarct volume was histologically determined four weeks post-stroke.
Main Results:
- Photothrombotic lesions were consistently located in the frontal and parietal cortex, with partial white matter involvement.
- A reproducible infarct volume was achieved one month after photothrombosis.
- Photothrombotic lesions significantly impaired motor performance.
Conclusions:
- The photothrombosis procedure provides a simple and reproducible model for unilateral motor cortex lesions in mice.
- This model is suitable for investigating neuroprotective and therapeutic strategies for human stroke.
