title: The use of animal models for stroke research: a review.
abstract: Stroke has been identified as the second leading cause of death worldwide. Stroke is a focal neurologic deficit caused by a change in cerebral circulation. The use of animal models in recent years has improved our understanding of the physiopathology of this disease. Rats and mice are  the most commonly used stroke models, but the demand for larger models, such as rabbits and even nonhuman primates, is increasing so as to better understand the disease and its treatment. Although the basic mechanisms of stroke are nearly identical among mammals, we here discuss the differences  between the human encephalon and various animals. In addition, we compare common surgical techniques used to induce animal models of stroke. A more complete anatomic knowledge of the cerebral vessels of various model species is needed to develop more reliable models for objective results that  improve knowledge of the pathology of stroke in both human and veterinary medicine.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Anatomy Section, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Casals
authors.forename: Naira C G
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Pieri
authors.forename: Matheus L T
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Feitosa
authors.forename: Anna C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ercolin
authors.forename: Kelly C S
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Roballo
authors.forename: Rodrigo S N
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Fabiana F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Bressan
authors.forename: Daniele S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Miglino
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ambrósio
mesh_terms: D000717:Anatomy, Comparative; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012106:Research; D013045:Species Specificity; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*