A modified bilateral carotid artery stenosis procedure to develop a chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model with an...

Bilateral carotid artery occlusion (2-vessel occlusion, 2VO) in rats is a classic and frequently used approach to develop an animal model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. However, this method results in substantial mortality in rats.

We investigated whether a modified 2VO procedure, which induces bilateral carotid artery stenosis via ligation of each bilateral common carotid artery (CCA) with a 32 gauge (G) needle followed by needle removal, could produce a chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model with an increased survival rate. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with the standard or modified 2VO procedure, and changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and survival rates were determined. On day 28, cognitive function was assessed with the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test, and neuronal survival and degeneration within the hippocampal CA1 area were measured. Damage to the white matter (WM) within the corpus striatum was assessed via Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining and analyses analyzing the levels of the myelin basic protein (MBP) protein levels.

The modified 2VO procedure induced similar cognitive impairments, hippocampal lesions and WM damage compared with the standard 2VO procedure in rats; however, it had an increased survival rate. Comparison with existing methods This novel method can be used to quickly and effectively establish a chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model with common materials and an improved survival rate.

Bilateral carotid artery stenosis using a 32 G needle is a useful and reliable method to develop a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion with increased survival.