Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2025
Early Pathological and Magnetic Resonance Detection of Cerebral Injury Using a Rat Model of Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Published on: October 28, 2022
Protocol to optimize the Rice-Vannucci rat pup model of perinatal asphyxia to ensure predictable hypoxic-ischemic
Jitka Ourednik1, Václav Ourednik1, Nirmalya Ghosh2
1Center for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Abstract:
The Rice-Vannucci model in rodent pups is subject to substantial loss of animals, result inconsistency, and high lab-to-lab variability in extent and composition of induced injury. This protocol allows for highly predictable and reproducible hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury lesions in post-natal day 10 Wistar rat pups with no mortality. We describe steps for common carotid artery ligation, brief post-operative normothermia, exposure to hypoxia, and post-hypoxic normothermia. Precise timing and temperature control in each step are crucial for a successful procedure. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Hartman et al.1.
