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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
A Mouse Model for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Based on Needle-guided Asymmetric Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Stenosis
Published on: November 22, 2024
A novel mouse model of ischemic carotid artery disease
Yorito Hattori1, Akihiro Kitamura2, Kazuyuki Nagatsuka3
1Department of Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Department of Neurology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Background:
Carotid artery occlusive disease gradually develops over time, eventually leading to cerebral infarction and high mortality rate. Animal models replicating cerebral infarction resulting from carotid artery occlusive disease have thus been developed to test potential novel treatments, which could be subsequently administered clinically.
Methods:
Adult C57BL/6J male mice were subjected to ameroid constrictor (AC) placement to gradually narrow the bilateral common carotid arteries. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured at several time points. At 7 and 28 days post-operation, post-mortem brain samples were analyzed for ischemic changes.
Results:
The mortality rate was 58.8% at 28 days post-operation. Surviving mice with AC showed continuous reduction of CBF by up to 70% of the baseline level at 28 days. Most of the mice (75%) showed multiple cerebral infarctions in the gray and white matter. Non-surviving mice showed critical CBF reduction below 20-30% of the baseline level before death.
Conclusion:
The application of the AC on the bilateral common carotid arteries in mice could offer a reliable model of severe cerebrovascular insufficiency due to carotid artery occlusive disease and may thus be useful in exploring pharmacological intervention in stroke through monitoring survival rate, infarct formation, and CBF profile.
Insights
This study developed a mouse model for carotid artery occlusive disease, demonstrating its utility in studying stroke and potential treatments by monitoring survival and cerebral infarction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Carotid artery occlusive disease leads to stroke and high mortality.
- Developing reliable animal models is crucial for testing new stroke therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and validate a mouse model for carotid artery occlusive disease.
- To assess the model's suitability for studying cerebrovascular insufficiency and pharmacological interventions.
Main Methods:
- Adult male mice underwent ameroid constrictor placement to narrow carotid arteries.
- Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was monitored, and brain tissue analyzed for ischemic changes post-operation.
Main Results:
- A 58.8% mortality rate was observed by 28 days post-operation.
- Surviving mice showed a 70% reduction in CBF, with 75% exhibiting cerebral infarctions.
- Non-survivors experienced critical CBF reduction (<20-30% of baseline) before death.
Conclusions:
- The ameroid constrictor model reliably replicates severe cerebrovascular insufficiency from carotid artery disease.
- This model is valuable for evaluating stroke treatments by tracking survival, infarcts, and CBF.
