Exploring Sex Differences in Stroke Outcomes: A Comprehensive Analysis From the SPAN 1 Trial

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Translational Medicine
• Sex Differences in Disease

Background:

• Stroke exhibits significant sex differences in risk factors, incidence, and outcomes.
• Preclinical studies suggest sex disparities, but findings often lack validation across diverse settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex differences in neurological outcomes in preclinical stroke models.
• To validate existing findings across multiple research settings and animal models.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network (SPAN) trial.
• Analyzed outcomes in 665 animals across young mice, obese mice, aging mice, young rats, and spontaneously hypertensive rats.
• Compared neurological and behavioral outcomes (corner test, brain morphology, mortality) between sexes using statistical models.

Main Results:

• No significant sex differences in neurological outcomes were observed in most mouse and rat models.
• Infarct size and brain atrophy showed no sex disparities in mice.
• Female spontaneously hypertensive rats exhibited more severe sensorimotor injury compared to males.

Conclusions:

• Sex differences in stroke outcomes appear to be model-specific and subtle.
• Highlights the need for methodological consistency and diverse animal models in translational stroke research.
• Further investigation is needed to understand the role of sex in stroke outcomes.