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Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Allowing Reperfusion via Common Carotid Artery Repair in Mice
Published on: January 23, 2019
Acute recanalization of carotid stenosis is not proper: an experimental ischaemic stroke study
Insights
Recanalizing common carotid artery stenosis with cerebral infarction after 7 days improves neurological function and reduces brain swelling. Early intervention (1-3 days) may increase brain water content, but later recanalization enhances blood-brain barrier proteins.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Cerebrovascular Disease
Background:
- Common carotid artery (CCA) stenosis is a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke.
- Cerebral infarction resulting from CCA stenosis can lead to severe neurological deficits.
- Understanding the optimal timing for intervention is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the optimal time for common carotid artery (CCA) recanalization in a rat model of CCA stenosis with cerebral infarction.
- To evaluate the impact of recanalization timing on blood-brain barrier (BBB) function and brain injury.
Main Methods:
- A rat model of CCA stenosis with cerebral infarction was established.
- Two groups were studied: CCA stenosis and CCA stenosis recanalization.
- Recanalization was performed at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days post-stenosis.
- Neurological behavior, motor function, brain water content, and immunohistochemistry (laminin, fibronectin) were assessed.
- Peak systolic velocity (PSV) measured by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) evaluated CCA blood flow.
Main Results:
- Recanalization significantly reduced neurological deficits and improved motor function, particularly at 5, 7, and 14 days.
- While brain water content transiently increased at 1-3 days post-recanalization, it decreased overall compared to the stenosis-only group.
- Expression of laminin and fibronectin increased, indicating BBB repair, with significant enhancement at 7-14 days in both ischemic core and penumbra.
- CCA blood flow, assessed by PSV, returned to control levels after recanalization.
Conclusions:
- The optimal time for recanalization of CCA stenosis complicating cerebral infarction is at or after 7 days.
- Delayed recanalization promotes BBB recovery and reduces brain edema.
- This study provides critical insights into the timing of intervention for cerebrovascular events related to CCA stenosis.
Objectives:
In a rat common carotid artery (CCA) stenosis model, the author determined the function of blood-brain barrier (BBB) at different time points and established an optimal time for CCA recanalization in rats with CCA stenosis combined with cerebral infarction.
Methods:
Common carotid artery severe stenosis combined with cerebral infarction was divided into two groups: CCA stenosis group (n = 48) and CCA stenosis recanalization group (n = 48). Common carotid artery stenosis recanalization was opened at time points of 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days. Twenty-four hours after recanalization, neurological behaviour, motor function, brain water content and immunohistochemistry of laminin and fibronectin were used to assess brain injury. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) determined by colour Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) was used to assess blood flow of the CCA.
Results:
In contrast to CCA stenosis without recanalization, in which severe neurological deficits and foot fault were observed at 1, 2 and 3 days, significantly less neurological deficits at 14 days and less foot fault placing at 5, 7 and 14 days were observed after recanalization (P < 0.05). Although the brain water content was enhanced in the recanalization group at the stage of 1-3 days (P < 0.05), a decrease in recanalization group at all time points (1-14 days) was found. Being consistent with reduced brain oedema, the expression of laminin and fibronectin gradually increased in both groups. However, at the early phase of 7-14 days (vs acute phase), the levels of basal laminar proteins were significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced by vascular recanalization in both the ischaemic core and penumbra. Peak systolic velocity of CCA after recanalization reached the control level without stenosis.
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that the optimal time to open the CCA stenosis complicating cerebral infarction is at or after 7 days of CCA stenosis.
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