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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
The Efficacy of Experimental Therapy for Stroke Induced by Cerebral Air Embolism in Awake Rats Is Affected by Heliox
Arina Kholina1, Alina Ismailova1, Victor Palikov1,2,3,4,5
1Department of Biological Testing, Branch of the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russian Federation.
Background:
Previous studies have shown that Heliox, a mixture of 32% oxygen and 68% helium administered at a warm temperature, is effective in treating ischemic brain injury caused by cerebral arterial air embolism. At the same time, therapeutic hypothermia has been shown to lead to a favorable neurological outcome in patients in the acute phase of ischemic stroke; however, there are no published data on the use of Heliox at room temperature after ischemic stroke. All published data indicate only the efficacy of heated Heliox. The most effective temperature regimen for Heliox inhalation to prevent neurological deficits in stroke remains unknown.
Methods:
Three Heliox inhalation temperature regimens were studied at 20-22 °C, 40-50 °C, and 60-70 °C. The mixture was administered immediately after inducing ischemic stroke in awake rats using a model of cerebral arterial air embolism. Respiratory and cardiovascular function, as well as body temperature, coordination, muscle strength, and serum calcium binding protein B (S100B) concentrations were studied 24 hours after embolization. A brain histopathological study was also performed.
Results:
Inhalation of heated Heliox (40-50 °C and 60-70 °C) immediately after cerebral arterial air embolism was shown to be an effective method for maintaining respiratory and cardiovascular function and body temperature, for preventing the development of foci of ischemic brain damage on 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC)-stained sections of the brain, and for partially preserving coordination, muscle strength, locomotor activity, and for a partial reduction in serum S100B concentration during the acute phase of ischemic stroke in rats compared to the untreated group with cerebral arterial air embolism (CAE). Unheated Heliox had a negative effect on experimental animals, and decreased a survival rate to 62.5%.
Conclusions:
Heated Heliox has an equally positive effect at temperatures of 40-50 °C and 60-70 °C, and significantly alleviated the symptoms of ischemic stroke during the acute phase. In contrast, unheated Heliox at room temperature (20-22 °C) had a negative effect on the course of ischemic stroke in rats.
