Global forebrain ischaemia in the rat: controlled reduction of cerebral blood flow by hypobaric hypotension and two-vessel occlusion.
We developed and characterized a model of global forebrain ischaemia in rats, permitting control of CBF at any desired ischaemic level with minimum surgery and without anticoagulation. Both common carotid arteries are occluded temporarily and systemic arterial pressure is lowered by pooling venous blood by lower body negative pressure with a cheap suction device. By measuring rCBF continuously (laser-Doppler-flowmetry) and regulating systemic arterial pressure, the model was used to automatically control cortical rCBF at predetermined ischaemic levels at 50, 30, 15, and 5% of normal rCBF (n = 5). When both common carotid arteries were occluded and systemic arterial pressure was lowered to 55 mmHg with hypobaric hypotension (n = 5), cortical CBF always fell to less than 5% of normal rCBF (n = 5). Prompt recirculation was achieved after reopening of the carotid arteries and return to normobaric body pressure. Hypobaric hypotension with bilateral common carotid occlusion requires only carotid surgery and measurement of systemic arterial pressure; it produces global forebrain ischaemia without anticoagulation as a true step function type insult. If rCBF is measured continuously, the model can be used to control ischaemic CBF to predetermined values.
Dirnagl
U
U
Department of Neurology, University of Munich, Germany.
Thorén
P
P
Villringer
A
A
Sixt
G
G
Them
A
A
Einhäupl
K M
KM
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007022:Hypotension; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000098:blood supply*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar