From bench to beadside: experimental animal models in ischemic stroke research

Stroke is a devastating cardiovascular disease with a high mortality rate, leading to a significant reduction in quality of life and life expectancy. Due to the complexity of the pathophysiological processes following stroke in humans, the use of animal models of stroke, in particular rodent models, is essential for the development of treatments for patients. Transient or permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and photothrombotic models are the most commonly used to simulate ischemic stroke and are discussed in this review in detail. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the inflammatory and regenerative responses to stroke, executed mainly by glial cells but also by macrophages infiltrating the post-ischemic brain. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different animal models is the basis for their further refinement, allowing for better simulation of post-stroke events and the development of new therapeutic approaches for cerebral ischemia in humans.