title: Modified brain death model for rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Experimental animal models of brain death that mimic human conditions may be useful for investigating novel strategies that increase quality and quantity of organs for transplant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brain death was induced by increasing intracranial pressure by inflating an intracranial placed balloon catheter. Brain death was confirmed by flatline electroencephalogram, physical signs of apnea, and absence of brain stem reflexes. Donor management was done after brain death. Intracranial pressure and physiologic variables were continually monitored during 9 hours' follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety percent of brain dead animals showed typical signs of brain death such as diabetes insipidus, hypertensive, and hypotensive periods. Donor care was performed for 9 hours after brain death, and the mean arterial pressure was maintained above 60 mm Hg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the rat model of brain death can be performed in a standardized, reproducible, and successful way.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and the Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery & Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors.forename: Shuijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yantao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yongfu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001049:Apnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D001926:Brain Death / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D058256:Brain Waves; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004569:Electroencephalography; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012018:Reflex; D013997:Time Factors