Journal of Capital Medical University ›› 2013, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (1): 69-74.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-7795.2013.01.013

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Correlation between neurological deficits scores and infarct volume in focal cerebral ischemia in rats

WANG Rongliang, LIU Xiaomeng, ZHANG Ying, JI Xunming, LUO Yumin   

  1. Cerebrovascular Diseases Research Institute, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Geriatric medical Research Center, Beijing 100053, China
  • Received:2012-10-09 Online:2013-02-21 Published:2013-02-25
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by National Science Foundation of China (81071058, 30770743, 81271461).

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the correlation between three scores of neurological deficits and infarct volume of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in rats. Methods A total of 20 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups. MCAO models were induced. At five different time points (24 h, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d and 30 d after reperfusion), three grading methods (Longa test, Forelimb Placing test and Ludmila Belayev test) were used to evaluate neurological functions of rats. Then, the volume of infarction was calculated after taking the brain for HE staining. The correlations between neurological function scores and brain infarction volumes were analyzed by ANOVA and correlation.Results From 24 hours to 30 days after reperfusion, the scores of neurological deficits and the volume of infarction were decreased. There were significant differences in the scores of forelimb placing test and Ludmila Belayev test between 7 and 30 days after reperfusing (P<0.05). But the differences of infarction volume at different time points were insignificant (P>0.05). In terms of the correlation between the Ludmila Belayev score and infarction volume, there exists the obvious statistical significance at 3 (P<0.01) and 30 days (P<0.05). Conclusion For the MCAO model of rats, the Ludmila Belayev test can be used to evaluate the extent of injury after cerebral infarction at 3 and 30 days after reperfusion.

Key words: cerebral ischemia, neurological function scoring, infarct volume

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