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PubMed2006

Effects of thymoquinone (volatile oil of black cumin) on rheumatoid arthritis in rat models.

Many studies have been carried out in recent years on the pharmacological effects of nigella sativa seeds that have uncovered their antiinflammatory and immunological effects. The objective of this study was to explore the antiinflammatory effects of thymoquinone on arthritis in rat models. Rats with arthritis induced by Freund's incomplete adjuvant were assigned into five groups: group 1: controls 0.9% NaCl (n = 7); group 2: 2.5 mg/kg thymoquinone (n = 7); group 3: 5 mg/kg thymoquinone (n = 7); group 4: Bacilli Chalmette Guerin (BCG) 6 x 10(5) CFU (n = 7); group 5: methotrexate 0.3 mg/kg (n = 7). Signs of inflammation on the claw and radiological signs were searched for and TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were measured. The results of control and other groups were compared. As a result, thymoquinone, confirmed clinically and radiologically, suppressed adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Two new closely related rat models with relevance to arterial thrombosis--efficacies of different antithrombotic drugs.

Two thrombosis models in rats are described in which mixed type thrombi are formed at arterial and venous flow rates. The models, containing a silk thread in the aorta and vena cava, respectively, were characterised for the activity of three platelet inhibitors, three thrombin active site inhibitors and five glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). In the two models a similar highly platelet-dependent thrombus developed both in size and composition during the first 10 min after insertion of the silk thread. The thrombotic processes were self-limiting, thus maintaining blood flow, but persisted twice as long in the vena cava model. In both models the thrombus consisted for more than 65% of platelets. Thrombus development under arterial as well as under venous flow conditions was inhibited dose dependently by all tested compounds including aspirin and the synthetic alpha-methyl glycoside copy of the ATIII binding pentasaccharide within heparin, Org31540/SR90107A. Simultaneous fibrin deposition and platelet activation, which represents an essential element of arterial thrombosis, initially dominated-in both models. The gradual thrombus outgrowth, in the cava model, was more sensitive to factor Xa selective anti-coagulants, as is venous thrombosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Cyclosporine and partial liver allotransplants in a simplified rat model.

We designed a simplified rat model to assess the effects of cyclosporine (CsA) on liver transplants. Auxiliary liver grafts consisting of 20 per cent of the whole liver were supplied with portal inflow and the bile was drained into the stomach. The cuff technique was used routinely for both end-to-end and end-to-side venous anastomoses. The host liver was totally deprived of portal inflow. Two inbred strains of rats, LEW and F344, were used for isograft (LEW----LEW) and allograft (F344----LEW). All survivors were killed at the end of the fourth week after transplantation. During four weeks, the isografts increased by 108 per cent in wet liver weight. Animals with allograft were treated with CsA given i.m., in a daily dose of 20 and 40 mg/kg for the first ten days post transplantation. The CsA-treated rats were free from parenchymal destruction of the allograft, as was characteristic of the allograft controls. The rats given CsA in the dose of 40 mg/kg showed a 173 per cent increase in the wet liver weight of the transplant, such being greater than allografts in rats on 20 mg/kg of CsA (100 per cent) and even than isografts. These results indicate that auxiliary partial liver grafts benefit from the use of CsA not only through suppression of allorejection but through a potential "hepatotrophic effect" of the agent.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed2005

[Effect of qiangyi jiangtang capsules on diabetes mellitus model rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacodynamics of qiangyi jiangtang capsules (QJC) to offer the scientific foundation for clinical treatment to model rats of diabetes millitus induced by high lipid forage and streptozotocin. METHODS: The model rats of diabetes mellitus were induced by intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% streptozotocin (30 mg/kg body weight) given to Wistar rats after feeding with high lipid forage for a month and followed by fasting for 18 hours. Rats with level of blood glucose over 10.0 mmol/L 5 days after modelling was regarded as the successful model. Besides, a group of blank control was set up with rats fed with general forage and injected with equal volume of citric acid buffer solution. The successfully modelled rats were randomly divided into the model group, the positive control group and the high (2.0 g/kg), middle (1.2 g/kg) and low (0.4 g/kg) dose QJC treated groups. Meanwhile, the same volume of normal saline was given to rats in the blank control group and the model group, while Matfarmin (0.5 g/kg) was given to the rats in the positive control group. The levels of blood glucose (BG), serum fructose amine (SFA), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were measured after one month of medication, and the amount of water drinking and food intake were measured at the second and the fourth week of the treatment. RESULTS: The levels of BG, SFA, HbA1c, the amount of water drinking and food intake in the 3 QJC treated groups were obviously lower than those in the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: QJC could remarkably lower the levels of BG, HbA1c, SFA and the amount of food intake and water-drinking of DM model rats, it is a Chinese herbal preparation worthy of further development and research.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Influence of acidosis and hypoxia on liver ischemia and reperfusion injury in an in vivo rat model.

The contribution of acidosis to the development of reperfusion injury is controversial. In this study, we examined the effects of respiratory acidosis and hypoxia in a frequently used in vivo liver ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury rat model. Rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal anesthetics and subjected to partial liver ischemia (70%) for 60 min and subsequent reperfusion for 90 min under the following conditions: 1) no acidosis and normoxia, maintained by controlled ventilation; 2) acidosis and normoxia, maintained by passive supply with oxygen; 3) no acidosis and hypoxia, maintained by bicarbonate administration without respiratory support; and 4) acidosis and hypoxia, i.e., without respiratory support or pH correction. Changes in plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured as parameters of hepatocellular injury, and bile secretion was monitored. AST and ALT levels were lowest in the ventilated rats and highest in the bicarbonate-treated rats. No differences in bile secretion were found between groups. Our results suggest that respiratory acidosis significantly enhanced liver I/R injury under normoxic conditions, whereas respiratory acidosis significantly reduced liver I/R injury under hypoxic conditions.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1986

Macrophage activation in rat models of inflammation and arthritis. Systemic activation precedes arthritis induction and progression.

The association between the induction and progression of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) and the development of synovial and systemic macrophage activation was assessed by studying the temporal development of these parameters in a rat model. Rats with AA developed significant edema of the uninjected hind leg beginning 10 days post-adjuvant injection, with progressive increases in edema continuing through day 17. Several parameters of macrophage activation, including the enhanced ability to secrete interleukin-1 and prostaglandin E2, kill tumor cells, accumulate fluorescent cyanine dyes, emigrate into the peritoneal cavity and synovium, and express Ia antigen, as well as the decreased ability to secrete superoxide anion, were associated temporally with the development of the arthritic lesion. In addition to the temporal association between macrophage activation and development of arthritis, a positive correlation between macrophage activation and arthritis induction was seen with the use of synthetic adjuvants at arthritogenic and nonarthritogenic doses. These data taken together suggest that induction and progression of AA in rats is associated with both systemic (blood, spleen, and peritoneal cavity) and local (synovium) macrophage activation.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Effects of melatonin on the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in rat models of colitis.

AIM: To investigate the effects of melatonin (MT) on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in rat models of colitis. METHODS: Healthy adult Sprague-Dawlay (SD) rats of both sexes, weighing 280+/-30 g, were employed in the present study. The rat models of colitis were induced by either acetic acid or 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) enemas. The experimental animals were randomly divided into melatonin treatment and model control group that were intracolicly treated daily with melatonin at doses of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 mg/kg(-1) and equal amount of saline respectively from 24 h following induction of colitis in rats inflicted with acetic acid enema and the seventh day in rats with TNBS to the end of study. A normal control group of rats treated with neither acetic acid nor TNBS but saline enema was also included in the study. On the 28(th) day of the experiment, the rat colon mucosal damage index (CDMI) was calculated, and the colonic prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), nitric oxide (NO), as well as the iNOS and COX-2 expression were also determined biochemically or immunohistochemically. RESULTS: CDMI increased to 2.87+/-0.64 and 3.12+/-1.12 respectively in rats treated with acetic acid and TNBS enema, which was in accordance with the significantly elevated colonic NO and PGE(2) contents, as well as the up-regulated colonic iNOS and COX-2 expression in both of the two rat models of colitis. With treatment by melatonin at the doses of 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg(-1), CDMI in both models of rat colitis was significantly decreased (P<0.05-0.01), which accorded synchronously and unanimously with the reduced colonic NO and PGE(2) content, as well as the down-regulated expression of colonic iNOS and COX-2. CONCLUSION: Melatonin has a protective effect on colonic injury induced by both acetic acid and TNBS enemas, which is probably via a mechanism of local inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression in colonic mucosa.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Exposure of intestinal segments to hemiacidrin: analysis of metabolic and histological effects using a rat model.

Using a previously reported rat model, we examined the effects of intestinal perfusion with hemiacidrin on calcium and magnesium homeostasis, and inspected the intestinal segments for histological alterations following exposure to the solution. Intestinal irrigation with hemiacidrin resulted in a significant increase in serum magnesium. Urinary excretion rates of calcium increased 8-fold and magnesium excretion rates increased 5-fold over control values. Hemiacidrin appeared to have detrimental effects on the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, and irrigation should be done with caution in patients whose urinary tract has been reconstructed with intestinal segments.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of different radioactive agents for the detection of renovascular hypertension with captopril in a rat model.

In Goldblatt hypertension in rats produced by implanting a silver clip on the left renal artery, captopril induces a greater difference in the 1-min uptake of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) between the two kidneys than in baseline uptakes, similar to the experiences in unilateral renovascular hypertension in man. The combination of captopril and furosemide induces an even greater difference in renal uptakes than with captopril alone in this rat model. In paired experiments, DTPA complexes were used as a standard to compare the differences in renal uptake between the two kidneys after captopril-furosemide with other existing and potential renal radiodiagnostic agents. No statistically significant difference was found between DTPA, glucoheptonate, dimercaptosuccinic acid, aminated dextran, or lysozyme. However, the differences in renal uptake were significantly less with hippuran than with DTPA. Furosemide and captopril caused delayed renal retention of hippuran after one minute. This response appeared to be due to non-specific volume depletion because it occurred in both clipped and unclipped kidneys.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Combination anti-inflammatory and antiviral therapy of influenza in a cotton rat model.

The cotton rat was evaluated as a model for anti-inflammatory and antiviral influenza therapy. Beginning 3 days after intranasal infection with 10(7) tissue culture infectious doses-50% (TCID)(50) of an H3N2 human influenza, animals were treated topically via intranasal lavage with a range of doses of triamcinolone acetonide (1, 4, or 16 mg/kg), alone or in combination with a neuraminidase inhibitor or anti-influenza convalescent serum. Pulmonary histopathologic changes were dramatically decreased in animals treated with 4 or 16 mg/kg of triamcinolone, with little additional benefit from addition of a neuraminidase inhibitor or topical serum, agents which were much less effective when used alone. A high degree of suppression of IFN-gamma levels was observed in all combinations where 4 or 16 mg/kg of triamcinolone were used. Viral replication was not prolonged by corticosteroid therapy. Tissue damage during influenza infection may be greatly reduced by combination antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapy.

Acetamides↗
PubMed2004

Hepatocyte growth factor treatment ameliorates diarrhea and bowel inflammation in a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Transfection of the HLA-B27 gene into normal Fischer rats induces phenotypic changes similar to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study investigated the benefits of 2 doses of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the manifestations of IBD in this rat model. METHODS: Fischer rats and HLA-B27 rats were divided into 4 groups: Fischer rats treated with saline, HLA-B27 rats treated with saline, HGF at 150 microg/kg/d, and HGF at 300 microg/kg/d. HGF or saline was infused for 14 days via an osmotic pump attached to a catheter in the internal jugular vein. After treatment, rats were evaluated for diarrhea and reduction in gross and microscopic bowel inflammation. Statistics were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A P value < or =.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Administration of HGF at 150 microg/kg/d decreased diarrhea by 40%, gross inflammation by 41%, and microscopic inflammation by 72% (P < or =.05). At 300 microg/kg/d HGF decreased diarrhea by 46%, gross inflammation by 45%, and microscopic inflammation by 54% (P < or =.05). CONCLUSIONS: HGF administration reduces the clinical manifestations of IBD in this rat model. Similar effects were seen at both doses of HGF administration, implying that there is a plateau above which further increases in HGF levels provides no added benefit. HGF administration may be clinically useful in the management of IBD.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Neurotoxicity after spinal anaesthesia induced by serial intrathecal injections of magnesium sulphate. An experimental study in a rat model.

We have previously demonstrated in a rat model that the lumbar intrathecal injection of 0.02 ml 6.3% magnesium sulphate, a concentration iso-osmolar with rat plasma, produces a state of spinal anaesthesia and general sedation which reversed completely after 6 h, without evidence of neurotoxicity, immediately or during the week thereafter. Using the same model and five groups of six animals in each, we administered the same volume and concentration of magnesium sulphate and compared its clinical effects with those of 0.02 ml 12.6% magnesium sulphate, 0.02 ml 2% lignocaine and 0.02 ml 0.9% sodium chloride solution, given as a series of 15 injections on alternate days for a period of 1 month. The animals were then killed and their spinal cords and meninges examined histologically. No significant differences were noted in the times of onset, durations of sensory and motor blockade and the times to full recovery throughout the entire period of 1 month's observation in the animals receiving intrathecal 6.3% magnesium sulphate. In the group receiving 12.6% magnesium sulphate, the time of onset of sensory and motor blockade was shorter and the duration of both parameters was significantly longer than in the former group. Full clinical recovery and resumption of normal eating and drinking took place in both groups throughout the entire series of 15 successive intrathecal injections. Identical, mild, uniform histopathological changes in the spinal cord were seen in all the five groups, including the group in which only the intrathecal catheter was implanted. The complete recovery and benign consequences of repeated intrathecal injections of iso-osmolar magnesium sulphate in a rat model indicate a lack of neurotoxicity and provide an impetus for further trials in larger animal species, before initial clinical trials of this substance, given intrathecally, in humans.

Anesthesia, Spinal↗
PubMed2002

Serial noninvasive assessment of progressive pulmonary hypertension in a rat model.

Current methods used to investigate pulmonary hypertension in rat models of the disease allow for only one to two measurements of pulmonary artery (PA) pressure in the life of a rat. We investigated whether transthoracic echocardiography can be used to assess the progression of pulmonary hypertension in rats at multiple time points. Serial echocardiographic measurements were performed over a 6-wk period on rats injected with monocrotaline (MCT) or placebo. Development of a midsystolic notch in the PA waveform, a decrease in the PA flow acceleration time (PAAT), an increase in right ventricular (RV) free-wall thickness, and the development of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) were observed as pulmonary hypertension developed. Changes in the PA waveform and PAAT began in week 3 of disease development as the PA systolic pressure (PASP) reached 25-30 mmHg according to right heart catheterization. The RV free-wall thickness increased significantly by week 5 (PASPs 40-50 mmHg). Development of quantifiable TR occurred in week 6 or at PASPs > 65 mmHg. A linear correlation was found between the PAAT and PASP in the range of 30-65 mmHg and between the RV-right atrial pressure gradient (derived from TR velocity) and PASP at pressures >65 mmHg, which enabled a noninvasive estimate of the PASP over a wide range of pressures based on these parameters. These data indicate that transthoracic echocardiography can be used for monitoring the progress of pulmonary hypertension in a rat model.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Effect of levodopa chronic administration on behavioral changes and fos expression in basal ganglia in rat model of PD.

To study behavioral character and changes of neuronal activity in the basal ganglia of rat model of levodopa-induced dyskinesia, unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rat model of Parkinson disease (PD) was treated with levodopa/benserazide twice daily for 4 weeks and the behavior observed on the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 21st and 28th day. The animals were sacrificed and immunohistochemical technique was used to measure the changes of Fos expression in the caudate putamen (CPU), globus pallidus (GP) and sensorimotor area of cerebral cortex 2 h after the last treatment. The results showed that pulsatile treatment with a subthreshold dose of levodopa gradually induced abnormal involuntary movement (AIM), including stereotypy (limb dyskinesia, axial dystonia and masticatory dyskinesia) towards the side contralateral to the dopamine-denervated striatum and increased contraversive rotation. The motor pattern of each subtype was highly stereotypic across individual rats, and the proportion of each subtype was not consistent among individual rats. Fos positive nuclei in the CPU and GP were increased by levodopa acute administration, and more remarkably in the CPU, but not in the cerebral cortex. After repeated levodopa treatment. Fos positive nuclei were reduced remarkably in the CPU, but were increased in the GP and cerebral cortex. It was concluded that the neural mechanisms underlying levodopa induced AIM in rat model of PD was very similar to those seen in levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) in PD patients and MPTP-lesioned monkeys, and increased striatopallidal neuronal activity might be involved in occurrence of LID.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The temporal relationship between the severity of hydroureter and the dynamic changes of obstructed ureters in a rat model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate dynamic changes in the obstructed rat ureter and to evaluate the usefulness of the rat model in the study of obstructive uropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Unilateral ligation of the ureter was performed in 26 rats. After ureteric ligation, four to seven rats were killed and examined after 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 days. The severity of hydroureter and hydronephrosis was assessed by pyelography and the hydroureter-hydronephrosis index. The middle portion of the ureter was prepared for light and electron microscopic observation. Five rats which received a sham operation were also examined as controls. RESULTS: The severity of hydroureter and hydronephrosis in the ligated ureters progressively increased during the period of obstruction (P < 0.005) and reached a maximum 10-14 days after ligation. Hypertrophy of the smooth muscle layer developed on the third day after ligation and proliferation of submucosal connective tissue occurred on the 10th day after ligation. The changes in smooth muscle and connective tissue layers also progressed consistently during ureteric obstruction (P < 0.001 and < 0.005, respectively). The number and size of granular endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in the smooth muscle cells increased after ureteric ligation and then caveolae exocytosis developed. Deposition of collagen fibres between muscle cells became apparent later. CONCLUSION: The rat model of hydrouropathy demonstrated a clear temporal relationship between the severity of hydroureter and the dynamic changes in the obstructed ureter and could be used as a conventional method for the study of obstructive ureter.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[The effects of EPHPH on acoustic brainstem response threshold and its relative factors of senile model rats].

OBJECTIVE: The effect of EPHPH on aged deafness and its mechanism was explored by observing the effects of EPHPH on acoustic brainstem response threshold (ABRT), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total-nitrogen monoxide (NOS) and typing-nitrogen monoxide (iNOS) in cochleae tissues of senile model rats. METHOD: ABRT value was measured by induced potentiometer, MDA was measured by TBA colorimetry, SOD was determined by nitrite method, NOS and iNOS was determined by spectrophotometry in cochleae tissues of senile model rats that separately administered by gavage the alcoholic extract from 2.16, 4.32 or 8.64 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) PHPH once a day for 6 months. RESULT: ABRT value and MDA content notably increased, activities) of SOD, NOS and iNOS notably decreased in cochlear tissues of senile model rats from control. It indicated on relative analysis that relativity between ABRT value ascent and MDA ascent showed positive, relaxivities between ABRT value ascent and activity descents of SOD, NOS and iNOS showed all negative. It differently resisted ABRT value ascent and MDA ascent in cochlear tissues that senile model rats separately administered the alcoholic extract from 2.16, 4.32 or 8.64 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) PHPH whose relaxivities between quantity and efficiency showed all negative. It differently inhibited activity descents of SOD, NOS and iNOS in cochlear tissues that senile model rats separately administered various doses of EPHPH whose relaxivities between quantity and efficiency showed all positive. CONCLUSION: EPHPH may relieve the degree of aged deafness and its mechanism may be connected with eliminating oxygen free radicals and increasing the activities of SOD, NOS and iNOS in cochleae of natural senile rats.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

[The evolvement of Th1/Th2 imbalance accommodates to the progress of airway inflammation in asthmatic subjects and rat model].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 released in peripheral T lymphocytes in asthmatic patients and rat models and to clarify the dynamic changes of proliferation and differentiation of T lymphocytes during the progress of airway inflammation. METHODS: Twenty patients with moderate to severe acute exacerbation and 15 patients with remission of asthma were included in this study. Ten normal volunteers were also enrolled as control group. T lymphocytes were obtained from their peripheral blood and the percentage of IFN-gamma(+)CD4(++), IFN-gamma + CD8(++) and IL-4(+)CD4(++) cells were determined by flow cytometric method. Asthmatic rat models were established by sensitizing and challenging by ovalbumin (OVA), and the blood samples were taken and the percentage of IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+), IFN-gamma + CD8(+) and IL-4 + CD4(+) cells were assessed 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after OVA challenge. RESULTS: (1) The percentages of IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+), IFN-gamma(+)CD8(+) and IL-4(+)CD4(+) cells in the peripheral blood were significantly higher in the patients with acute exacerbation [(30% +/- 10%), (42% +/- 15%), and (4.2% +/- 1.6%) respectively] than those in the patients with remission asthma [(20% +/- 8%), (30% +/- 10%), and (2.0% +/- 0.8%) respectively, and P < 0.001;] and those in the normal subjects [(18% +/- 8%), and (24% +/- 9%), P < 0.01, and (1.9% +/- 0.9%), P < 0.001; respectively]. But all the parameters were not different significantly between the patients with remission asthma and the normal subjects. (2) In the asthmatic rat models, the IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells in peripheral blood increased 2 h after OVA challenge (5.7% +/- 1.6%), and peaked 10 h after (9.9% +/- 4.4%), and decreased afterwards. The IFN-gamma(+)CD8(+) cells in peripheral blood increased 2 h after (11.5% +/- 5.1%) OVA challenge, and peaked 10 h after (38.7% +/- 6.3%), and then decreased afterwards. The IL-4(+)CD4(+) cells increased 2 h (1.7% +/- 1.0%) after OVA challenge, and peaked 36 h after (4.0% +/- 1.6%), and then decreased. CONCLUSION: Both Th1 (IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines generated by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in asthma subjects and asthmatic rat models play a role in the development of airway inflammation in bronchial asthma dynamically. Th1 cytokines dominate at the early stage of airway inflammation, whereas Th2 cytokines achieves the major effects at later stage of the inflammation. It suggests that using different strategy in treatment of asthmatics in early stage and late stage may be necessary to control asthma.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A novel method of detecting rCBF with laser-Doppler flowmetry without cranial window through the skull for a MCAO rat model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with intraluminal technique, lesion volume and its reproducibility vary among laboratories. Although laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) is useful to optimize the reliability, conventional methods require a craniotomy and special apparatus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel approach for LDF monitoring of rCBF through lateral aspect of the skull without a craniotomy. METHODS: SD rats were subjected to 45 min of MCAO using an intraluminal thread. MCAO was achieved by an examiner who had been trained 4 weeks for making the model with no LDF monitoring (Group-1, n = 12), while in the other group, the same examiner induced MCAO using a novel approach of LDF monitoring (Group-2, n = 12). rCBF was detected through an LDF probe attached to the lateral aspect of the skull. The survival rate and the infarct volume were estimated for comparison between the two groups 2 days after MCAO. RESULTS: The mortality rate was 25% in Group-1 and 0% in Group-2. The lesion volume of the cortex in Group-2 was 167.21 +/- 48.54 mm(3) (mean +/- SD), which was larger than that in Group-1 (112.77 +/- 36.03 mm(3), P = 0.026). The coefficient variation of the lesion volume was smaller in Group-2 (29%) than in Group-1 (35%), indicating better reproducibility of the lesion volume in Group-2 than in Group-1. CONCLUSIONS: The approach of LDF monitoring through the lateral aspect of skull was useful for making large consistent infarct with reducing intraanimal variability and unexpected animal death for rat MCAO model.

Animals↗