title: Experimental intracerebral hematoma in the rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Current models of intracerebral hematoma are difficult to use for neurotransplantation studies because of high mortality and important variations of morphology, size and location of blood deposits. We propose a modification of the autologous blood infusion technique in rats to reduce these limitations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The modification consisted in a mechanical microlesion preceding blood infusion. A canula was stereotactically introduced into the striatum of adult rats. Subsequently, a parenchyma lesion was created by a rotating microcatheter coaxially inserted through the canula, followed by slow infusion of 30 mul autologous blood during 5 minutes. Controls included canula insertion only and canula + microlesion. Hematoma volume/morphology were quantified and the animals behaviorally analysed using standardized tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical mortality was 0/54 rats. One animal died during follow-up. Hematoma volume was constant and significantly higher (15.20 +/- 0.60 mm;3) than control lesions (canula: 0.11 +/- 0.01 mm;3; canula + trauma: 0.51 +/- 0.01 mm;3). Hematoma edges were sharply delineated and the perihematomal region histologically preserved. Rats with hematoma showed initially a reduced spontaneous rotational behaviour. They also showed persisting deficits of forelimb placing ability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The advantages of this model include a systematic control of all steps of hematoma production, high reproducibility of volume, size, and location of blood deposits, preservation of perihematomal brain tissue, and quantifiable neurological deficits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. alain.barth@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Andres
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mordasini
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: Hans R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Widmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051937:Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32 / Q000378:metabolism; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012399:Rotation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D051937:Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32