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Updated: Oct 4, 2025
Permanent Cerebral Vessel Occlusion via Double Ligature and Transection
Published on: July 21, 2013
Sensory stimulation-based protection from impending stroke following MCA occlusion is correlated with
Waqas Rasheed1, Anirudh Wodeyar2,3,4, Ramesh Srinivasan2,3
1Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
Abstract:
In a rat model of ischemic stroke by permanent occlusion of the medial cerebral artery (pMCAo), we have demonstrated using continuous recordings by microelectrode array at the depth of the ischemic territory that there is an immediate wide-spread increase in spontaneous local field potential synchrony following pMCAo that was correlated with ischemic stroke damage, but such increase was not seen in control sham-surgery rats. We further found that the underpinning source of the synchrony increase is intermittent bursts of low multi-frequency oscillations. Here we show that such increase in spontaneous LFP synchrony after pMCAo can be reduced to pre-pMCAo baseline level by delivering early (immediately after pMCAo) protective sensory stimulation that reduced the underpinning bursts. However, the delivery of a late (3 h after pMCAo) destructive sensory stimulation had no influence on the elevated LFP synchrony and its underpinning bursts. Histology confirmed both protection for the early stimulation group and an infarct for the late stimulation group. These findings highlight the unexpected importance of spontaneous LFP and its synchrony as a predictive correlate of cerebral protection or stroke infarct during the hyperacute state following pMCAo and the potential clinical relevance of stimulation to reduce EEG synchrony in acute stroke.
Insights
Early sensory stimulation reduced brain activity synchrony after ischemic stroke in rats, preventing damage. Late stimulation had no effect, highlighting the critical timing for neuroprotection and potential stroke treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Stroke Research
- Ischemic Stroke Models
Background:
- Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAo) in rats causes widespread increases in spontaneous local field potential (LFP) synchrony.
- This elevated LFP synchrony correlates with ischemic stroke damage and originates from intermittent bursts of low multi-frequency oscillations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if early or late sensory stimulation can modulate pMCAo-induced LFP synchrony.
- To determine the neuroprotective effects of sensory stimulation based on its timing relative to stroke onset.
Main Methods:
- Rats underwent pMCAo to model ischemic stroke.
- Continuous microelectrode array recordings monitored LFP synchrony.
- Sensory stimulation was delivered either immediately (early) or 3 hours (late) after pMCAo.
- Histological analysis assessed infarct volume.
Main Results:
- Early sensory stimulation significantly reduced elevated LFP synchrony and underlying bursts, correlating with reduced stroke damage.
- Late sensory stimulation did not influence LFP synchrony or stroke progression.
- Histology confirmed neuroprotection in the early stimulation group and infarct in the late stimulation group.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous LFP synchrony is a critical indicator of cerebral protection or infarct in the hyperacute phase post-pMCAo.
- Early intervention with sensory stimulation can mitigate stroke damage by reducing LFP synchrony.
- These findings suggest potential clinical applications of stimulation therapies for acute stroke management.
