title: Cerebral collateral circulation in experimental ischemic stroke.
abstract: Cerebral collateral circulation is a subsidiary vascular network, which is dynamically recruited after arterial occlusion, and represents a powerful determinant of ischemic stroke outcome. Although several methods may be used for assessing cerebral collaterals in the acute phase of ischemic stroke in humans and rodents, they are generally underutilized. Experimental stroke models may play a unique role in understanding the adaptive response of cerebral collaterals during ischemia and their potential for therapeutic modulation. The systematic assessment of collateral perfusion in experimental stroke models may be used as a "stratification factor" in multiple regression analysis of neuroprotection studies, in order to control the within-group variability. Exploring the modulatory mechanisms of cerebral collaterals in stroke models may promote the translational development of therapeutic strategies for increasing collateral flow and directly compare them in term of efficacy, safety and feasibility. Collateral therapeutics may have a role in the hyperacute (even pre-hospital) phase of ischemic stroke, prior to recanalization therapies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Stroke Research, School of Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy ; PhD Programme in Neuroscience, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cuccione
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Stroke Research, School of Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Padovano
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Stroke Research, School of Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Versace
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Stroke Research, School of Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy ; Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMi), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrarese
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Stroke Research, School of Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy ; Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMi), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beretta
keywords: Cerebral collaterals; Collateral therapeutics; Experimental stroke models; Infarct size variability; Ischemic penumbra; Ischemic stroke