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Updated: Oct 3, 2025
Real-Time Assessment of Spinal Cord Microperfusion in a Porcine Model of Ischemia/Reperfusion
Published on: December 10, 2020
Multiparametric Monitoring of Early Pathophysiological Changes in a Porcine Model of Sequential Focal and Global
Marius Marc-Daniel Mader1, Axel Heimann2, Oliver Kempski2
1Institute for Neurosurgical Pathophysiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Objective:
Large animal models of cerebral ischemia have the potential to increase the translational value of stroke research. This study aims to measure early changes of brain tissue oxygen pressure (ptiO2) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) to characterize a porcine model of sequential middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO).
Methods:
Eight juvenile German Landrace pigs received unilateral MCAO via a frontotemporal approach under continuous intraparenchymal multiparametric monitoring. Insufficient reduction (i.e., <50% in both ptiO2 and CBF) was followed by additional bilateral CCAO. Neurodegenerative changes were detected by Fluoro-Jade B (FJB) staining.
Results:
Only 1 of 8 animals demonstrated a decrease of >50% in both ptiO2 and CBF after MCAO. Additional CCAO in 7 pigs led to a significant reduction of both ipsilateral and contralateral ptiO2 (P < 0.01) but not of CBF. There was no difference in ptiO2 and FJB positive area between hemispheres in this group. Measurement of ptiO2 correlated negatively with the FJB positive area (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Intraparenchymal multiparametric measurements of acute changes in ptiO2 and CBF were variable after MCAO. Bilateral CCAO led to a consistent decrease in ptiO2 and correlated with early degenerative histologic changes, but CBF did not. Real-time procedural ptiO2 monitoring could provide useful guidance in large animal ischemia models. Feasibility in the context of global cerebral hypoperfusion is demonstrated.
