Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Allowing Reperfusion via Common Carotid Artery Repair in Mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cardiovascular Research
• Experimental Neurology

Background:

• Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and mortality globally.
• Current treatments, like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), are limited.
• Reliable experimental models are essential for developing new stroke therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an alternative middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgical model in rodents.
• To reduce variability in lesion volume outcomes observed in traditional MCAO models, particularly in mice.
• To improve mouse welfare during MCAO procedures.

Main Methods:

• An alternative MCAO model is described, involving common carotid artery (CCA) reperfusion and vessel repair with a fibrinogen-based sealant.
• This method avoids external carotid artery (ECA) ligation, reducing reliance on the anatomically variable Circle of Willis.
• The approach aims to enhance middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory perfusion.

Main Results:

• The alternative MCAO surgical approach demonstrated decreased variability in lesion volumes compared to the traditional MCAO method.
• Representative data indicate improved consistency in experimental outcomes.
• The modified procedure enhances mouse welfare by eliminating ECA ligation.

Conclusions:

• The refined MCAO model offers a more reliable and reproducible method for studying ischemic stroke in mice.
• This improved model facilitates the progression of research into novel pharmaceutical targets and treatments for ischemic stroke.
• The enhanced surgical technique contributes to better experimental design and animal welfare in stroke research.