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Gradual common carotid artery occlusion as a novel model for cerebrovascular Hypoperfusion

Metabolic Brain Disease volume 33, pages 2039–2044 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Chronic cerebrovascular hypoperfusion results in vascular dementia and increases predisposition to lacunar infarcts. However, there are no suitable animal models. In this study, we developed a novel model for chronic irreversible cerebral hypoperfusion in mice. Briefly, an ameroid constrictor was placed on the right carotid artery to gradually occlude the vessel, while a microcoil was placed on the left carotid artery to prevent compensation of the blood flow. This procedure resulted in a gradual hypoperfusion developing over a period of 34 days with no cerebral blood flow recovery. Histological analysis of the brain revealed neuronal and axonal degeneration as well as necrotic lesions. The most severely affected regions were located in the hippocampus and the corpus callosum. Overall, our paradigm is a viable model to study brain pathology resulting from gradual cerebrovascular hypoperfusion.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Gregory Konat for revising and editing the manuscript. This study was supported by the Helen Marie Lewis Medical Research Foundation (to JWS, XR, and AM), NIH CoBRE (P20 GM109098 to JWS), AHA SDG (16SDG31170008 to XR), NIH T32 (AG052375 to JWS), and funding from the Department of Neurology at WVU (to AM).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Dominic D. Quintana, Heng Hu, Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi, Stephanie L. Rellick, Sara E. Lewis, Jessica M. Povroznik & James W. Simpkins

  2. Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Xuefang Ren & Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi

  3. Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Xuefang Ren

  4. Experimental Stroke Core, Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Xuefang Ren, Heng Hu & James W. Simpkins

  5. One Medical Center Drive, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Xuefang Ren & Mohammad Alvi

  6. Department of Neurology, Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Mohammad Alvi

Authors
  1. Dominic D. Quintana
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  2. Xuefang Ren
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  3. Heng Hu
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  4. Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi
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  5. Stephanie L. Rellick
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  6. Sara E. Lewis
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  7. Jessica M. Povroznik
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  8. James W. Simpkins
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  9. Mohammad Alvi
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Correspondence to Xuefang Ren or Mohammad Alvi.

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Quintana, D.D., Ren, X., Hu, H. et al. Gradual common carotid artery occlusion as a novel model for cerebrovascular Hypoperfusion. Metab Brain Dis 33, 2039–2044 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-018-0312-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-018-0312-5

Keywords

  • White matter pathology
  • Hypoperfusion
  • Small vessel disease
  • Gradual vessel occlusion
  • Cerebral blood flow
  • Neuronal degeneration