Rodent ischemic stroke models and their relevance in preclinical research

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Translational Medicine

Background:

• Stroke, particularly ischemic stroke, is a major global health challenge causing significant death and disability.
• Current treatments focus on vessel recanalization, but effective pharmacological therapies targeting excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation are still needed.
• Preclinical rodent models are essential for testing new stroke interventions, but their ability to replicate human stroke pathophysiology varies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the five most frequently used rodent ischemic stroke models.
• To critically evaluate the advantages and limitations of each model.
• To guide the selection of appropriate models for testing acute-phase stroke pharmacological interventions.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on commonly used rodent ischemic stroke models.
• Comparative analysis of model characteristics, including relevance to human stroke pathophysiology (e.g., clot formation, blood-brain barrier disruption, neuroinflammation, edema).
• Focus on suitability for evaluating acute stroke interventions.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of five key rodent ischemic stroke models.
• Identification of specific strengths and weaknesses of each model in replicating human stroke.
• Emphasis on how model selection impacts the translation of preclinical findings.

Conclusions:

• No single rodent model perfectly replicates human ischemic stroke.
• Careful selection of a rodent model, based on the specific pharmacological target and stroke phase, is critical for successful preclinical research.
• Improved model selection can enhance the translation of basic science discoveries into effective clinical stroke therapies.