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Updated: Jun 26, 2025
Modeling Stroke in Mice - Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion with the Filament Model
Published on: January 6, 2011
Striatal Blood Flow Changes by Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion and Its Effect on Neurological Deficits in Mice
Miyuki Unekawa1, Naoki Tsukada1, Tsubasa Takizawa1
1Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Objective:
We attempted to record the regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) simultaneously at various regions of the cerebral cortex and the striatum during middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and to evaluate neurological deficits and infarct formation.
Methods:
In male C57BL/6J mice, CBF was recorded in three regions including the ipsilateral cerebral cortex and the striatum with laser Doppler flowmeters, and the origin of MCA was occluded with a monofilament suture for 15-90 min. After 48 h, neurological deficits were evaluated, and infarct was examined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining.
Results:
CBF decrease in the striatum was approximately two-thirds of the MCA-dominant region of the cortex during MCA occlusion. The characteristic CBF fluctuation because of spontaneously occurred spreading depolarization observed throughout the cortex was not found in the striatum. Ischemic foci with slight lower staining to TTC were found in the ipsilateral striatum in MCA-occluded mice for longer than 30 min (n = 54). Twenty-nine among 64 MCA-occluded mice exhibited neurological deficits even in the absence of apparent infarct with minimum staining to TTC in the cortex, and the severity of neurological deficits was not correlated with the size of the cortical infarct.
Conclusion:
Neurological deficits might be associated with the ischemic striatum rather than with cortical infarction.
Insights
Neurological deficits after middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion may stem from striatal ischemia, not cortical infarction. Striatal blood flow reduction and damage occurred independently of cortical changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cerebrovascular Research
- Ischemic Stroke Models
Background:
- Middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion is a common model for studying ischemic stroke.
- Understanding the differential impact of MCA occlusion on various brain regions is crucial for stroke research.
- Regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) dynamics and subsequent neurological deficits require detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simultaneously record regional CBF in the cerebral cortex and striatum during MCA occlusion.
- To evaluate the correlation between CBF changes, infarct formation, and neurological deficits.
- To determine the primary brain region responsible for neurological deficits following MCA occlusion.
Main Methods:
- Male C57BL/6J mice underwent MCA occlusion for 15-90 minutes.
- Regional CBF was measured in the ipsilateral cortex and striatum using laser Doppler flowmetry.
- Neurological deficits and infarcts (TTC staining) were assessed 48 hours post-occlusion.
Main Results:
- Striatal CBF decreased significantly, approximately two-thirds of the cortical reduction in MCA-dominant areas.
- Spreading depolarization, observed in the cortex, was absent in the striatum.
- Ischemic foci appeared in the striatum after 30 minutes of occlusion; neurological deficits occurred even without cortical infarcts.
Conclusions:
- Neurological deficits following MCA occlusion may be more closely linked to striatal ischemia than cortical infarction.
- The striatum exhibits distinct CBF responses and vulnerability compared to the cortex during MCA occlusion.
- Further research should focus on the role of the striatum in stroke-induced neurological impairments.
