Gait analysis in a pre- and post-ischemic stroke biomedical pig model

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Animal Models

Background:

• Gait analysis quantifies neural injury severity and recovery in humans and rodents.
• Rodent models have limitations due to significant brain structure differences from humans.
• Large animal models are needed for developing neurological treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish key gait characteristics in normal Yucatan miniature pigs.
• To assess dynamic gait changes following ischemic stroke in a porcine model.
• To validate the pig as a clinically relevant model for neurological injury studies.

Main Methods:

• Yucatan miniature pigs were trained to walk a semi-circular track.
• High-speed cameras recorded gait parameters before and after middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) confirmed stroke-induced infarction.

Main Results:

• Normal pigs exhibited symmetrical gait parameters (swing/stance times, step length/velocity, hoof height).
• MCA occlusion caused significant infarction and induced notable gait asymmetries.
• Pigs showed reduced paretic forelimb hoof height and altered hindlimb swing/stance times post-stroke.

Conclusions:

• Gait analysis is a sensitive method for detecting post-stroke gait alterations in pigs.
• The porcine model demonstrates potential for studying neurological conditions and treatment efficacy.
• Findings support the use of pigs as a clinically relevant model for neurological research.