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Updated: May 1, 2026
Author Spotlight: Innovative Techniques and Future Directions in Stroke Research
Published on: May 5, 2023
Development and characterization of a Yucatan miniature biomedical pig permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion
Simon R Platt1,2, Shannon P Holmes1,3, Elizabeth W Howerth1,4
1Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Background:
Efforts to develop stroke treatments have met with limited success despite an intense need to produce novel treatments. The failed translation of many of these therapies in clinical trials has lead to a close examination of the therapeutic development process. One of the major factors believed to be limiting effective screening of these treatments is the absence of an animal model more predictive of human responses to treatments. The pig may potentially fill this gap with a gyrencephalic brain that is larger in size with a more similar gray-white matter composition to humans than traditional stroke animal models. In this study we develop and characterize a novel pig middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) ischemic stroke model.
Methods:
Eleven male pigs underwent MCAO surgery with the first 4 landrace pigs utilized to optimize stroke procedure and 7 additional Yucatan stroked pigs studied over a 90 day period. MRI analysis was done at 24 hrs and 90 days and included T2w, T2w FLAIR, T1w FLAIR and DWI sequences and associated ADC maps. Pigs were sacrificed at 90 days and underwent gross and microscopic histological evaluation. Significance in quantitative changes was determined by two-way analysis of variance and post-hoc Tukey's Pair-Wise comparisons.
Results:
MRI analysis of animals that underwent MCAO surgery at 24 hrs had hyperintense regions in T2w and DWI images with corresponding ADC maps having hypointense regions indicating cytotoxic edema consistent with an ischemic stroke. At 90 days, region of interest analysis of T1 FLAIR and ADC maps had an average lesion size of 59.17 cc, a loss of 8% brain matter. Histological examination of pig brains showed atrophy and loss of tissue, consistent with MRI, as well as glial scar formation and macrophage infiltration.
Conclusions:
The MCAO procedure led to significant and consistent strokes with high survivability. These results suggest that the pig model is potentially a robust system for the study of stroke pathophysiology and potential diagnostics and therapeutics.
Insights
This study developed a novel pig model for studying ischemic stroke. The model demonstrates consistent stroke induction and high survival rates, offering a promising new tool for stroke research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Medicine
- Translational Research
Background:
- Stroke treatment development faces challenges due to limited predictive animal models.
- Pigs possess gyrencephalic brains, larger size, and similar gray-white matter composition to humans.
- A more predictive animal model is crucial for effective stroke therapy screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a novel pig model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) ischemic stroke.
- To assess the feasibility and consistency of inducing stroke in pigs using MCAO.
- To evaluate the pig model's suitability for studying stroke pathophysiology and therapeutic interventions.
Main Methods:
- Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery was performed on male pigs.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used for analysis at 24 hours and 90 days post-stroke.
- Histological evaluation was conducted at 90 days to assess tissue damage and inflammatory response.
Main Results:
- MRI confirmed ischemic stroke with cytotoxic edema 24 hours post-MCAO.
- At 90 days, an average lesion size of 59.17 cc was observed, with 8% brain matter loss.
- Histology revealed tissue atrophy, glial scar formation, and macrophage infiltration, consistent with stroke.
Conclusions:
- The pig MCAO model reliably induces significant strokes with high survivability.
- This model shows potential as a robust system for investigating stroke pathophysiology.
- The pig model may aid in the development of novel stroke diagnostics and therapeutics.
