Animal stroke models and outcome evaluation: A review

Stroke is among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and despite extensive research, prevalence is increasing. This has been partly attributed to systemic flaws in experimental design principles in studies involving stroke, and much work has been done to improve the standards of study design. In this article, different animal models mimicking ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke will be reviewed. Historical models will be discussed, as well as the more commonly employed modern techniques, such as thromboembolic occlusion and intraluminal filament occlusion models. This will be followed by a discussion of the selection of species for experimental animals, including the pros and cons of each. The various criteria used as metrics for evaluating post-stroke outcomes will also be reviewed, including but not limited to sensorimotor and cognitive impairment. Techniques for the evaluation of molecular, cellular, and hematological phenotypes will also be reviewed, including but not limited to in vitro and ex vivo cell culture, co-culture, and RNA/protein expression assays. Finally, a selection of key criteria and factors which have been historically neglected will be discussed, such as age and sex.