Abstract:

BACKGROUND: At present, Pulsinelli four-vessel occlusion method is mainly applied to prepare global brain ischemia and reperfusion injury models in mice, rats and other small animals. It is little used in the preparation of big animal models, and the relative anatomical documentation is of deficiency.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the improved four-vessel occlusion method for preparation of global brain ischemia and reperfusion injury models of cats.
METHODS: Referring to Pulsinelli four-vessel occlusion method, reforming of operation was proposed that bilateral vertebral arteries between the pterygoid process and transverse process of axes were blocked forever by electric coagulation. After that, bilateral carotid arteries were blocked temporarily. When resting brain wave appeared on active electroencephalogram, the brains of cats were considered as global ischemia. After 15 minutes of ischemia, the brains of cats were impaired by reperfusion. Arteries of cats in sham operated group were exposed but not electrically coagulated or blocked.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Twenty-five models were successful, one was unsuccessful, and four cats were dead. The achievement ratio was 83%. The appearance of ischemic brain tissues was typical tardive neuron necrosis. The improved four-vessel occlusion method is effective to establish global brain ischemia and reperfusion injury models in cats with high achievement ratio.