Abstract
Multiple methods exist to model permanent and transient ischemia under anesthesia in animals, however most human strokes occur while conscious. The use of endothelin-1 as a vasoconstrictor applied to the perivascular surface of the middle cerebral artery is one of the only methods for inducing stroke in conscious animals. Here, we describe standard operating procedures for stereotaxic placement of an ET-1 guide probe above the middle cerebral artery, induction of stroke in conscious rats, predictive outcome scoring during stroke, and neurological behavioral tests that we use to monitor transient and continuing deficits. The inclusion of long term neurological assessment is of particular importance when taking into consideration the effects of stroke on brain remodeling.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Yanagisawa M et al (1988) A novel potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells. Nature 332:411–415
Haynes WG, Webb DJ (1998) Endothelin as a regulator of cardiovascular function in health and disease. J Hypertens 16:1081–1098
Sharkey J et al (1993) Perivascular microapplication of endothelin-1: a new model of focal cerebral ischaemia in the rat. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 13:865–871
Virley D et al (2004) A new primate model of focal stroke: endothelin-1-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion in the common marmoset. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 24:24–41
Biernaskie J et al (2001) A serial MR study of cerebral blood flow changes and lesion development following endothelin-1-induced ischemia in rats. Magn Reson Med 46:827–830
Counsell C et al (2002) Predicting outcome after acute and subacute stroke: development and validation of new prognostic models. Stroke 33:1041–1047
Roulston C et al (2012) Animal models of stroke for preclinical drug development: a comparative study of flavonols for cytoprotection. Translational stroke research: from target selection to clinical trials. In: Lapchak P, Zhang J (eds) Translational stroke research. Springer Publishing, New York. Chapter 25, pp 493–524
Roulston CL et al (2008) Using behaviour to predict stroke severity in conscious rats: post-stroke treatment with 3′, 4′-dihydroxyflavonol improves recovery. Eur J Pharmacol 584:100–110
O’Neil MJ, Clemens JA (2001) Rodent models of focal cerebral ischemia. Curr Protoc Neurosci. Chapter 9: Unit 9.6
Schaar KL et al (2010) Functional assessments in the rodent stroke model. Exp Transl Stroke Med 2:13
Lapchak PA et al (2013) RIGOR guidelines: escalating STAIR and STEPS for effective translational research. Transl Stroke Res 4:279–285
Schallert T, Whishaw IQ (1984) Bilateral cutaneous stimulation of the somatosensory system in hemidecorticate rats. Behav Neurosci 98:518–540
Fuxe K et al (1992) Involvement of local ischemia in endothelin-1 induced lesions of the neostriatum of the anaesthetized rat. Exp Brain Res 88:131–139
Soleman S et al (2010) Sustained sensorimotor impairments after endothelin-1 induced focal cerebral ischemia (stroke) in aged rats. Exp Neurol 222:13–24
Yamamoto M et al (1988) Behavioral changes after focal cerebral ischemia by left middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. Brain Res 452:323–328
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Abeysinghe, H.C.S., Roulston, C.L. (2018). A Complete Guide to Using the Endothelin-1 Model of Stroke in Conscious Rats for Acute and Long-Term Recovery Studies. In: Tharakan, B. (eds) Traumatic and Ischemic Injury. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1717. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7526-6_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7526-6_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7524-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7526-6
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols