Abstract:

Objective To study the success rate and reliability of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) model by objective and reliable neurological score, infarct volume, and edema rate. Methods Cerebral ischemia model of MCAO was established in mouse using the suture method. Infarct volume, edema rate and behavioral performance was evaluated by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining and neurological score. Results MCAO could induce obvious focal cerebral ischemia by TTC staining and the success rate of this model was about 90.8%. Besides, MCAO could induce three types of cerebral ischemia: cortical, hippocampal and thalamic ischemia. And the predominant type is cortical ischemia. MCAO-induced cerebral ischemia could significantly increase the neurological score compared with the sham group. The procedure for infarct volume evaluation of the MCAO model was accurate and stable; infarct volume was about 35% of entire brain volume. Conclusion Cerebral ischemia model of MCAO was established in mice successfully(90.8%). The evaluation of neurological deficit and infarct volume was technically reliable.

Key words: middle cerebral artery occlusion, neurological score, infarct volume, TTC staining