Abstract:

BACKGROUND: There have been no unified standards regarding suture method applied for preparation of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury models in rats. It is of great significance to search a simple, stable and successful method to prepare focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury models in study of ischemic cerebral disease.
OBJECTIVE: To prepare focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury models in Sprague-Dawley rats using suture method and to analyze the success rate and stability of model preparation.
METHODS: The conventional Zea Longa model preparation method was modified. Precisely, fishing line was used as the suture line. The proximal parts of external carotid artery and internal carotid artery were ligated. The external carotid artery was not cut off and the pterygopalatine artery was not ligated. The suture line was advanced into the middle cerebral artery via the common carotid artery to cause ischemia and reperfusion.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Middle cerebral artery occlusion was performed within 20 minutes. After model preparation, rat neurological functions were obviously impaired. Red tetrazoline staining showed that cerebral infarction region was pale. Pathological examination showed typical pathological manifestation. The success rate of model preparation was 75%. During model preparation, subarachnoid hemorrhage and incomplete cerebral ischemia may occur. These findings suggest that the suture method applied for preparation of focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury models in Sprague-Dawley rats is a simple method with high success rate, identified ischemic effects and short operation time.