title: A Novel Model of Transient Occlusion of the Middle Cerebral Artery in Awake Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. As a consequence, several excellent rodent models have been developed to gain insight into the pathophysiology of stroke and testing the efficacy of neuroprotective interventions. However, one potential problem is that albeit roughly 80% of strokes occur in awake patients, all existing murine stroke models employ anesthesia. Moreover, epidemiological studies have shown that stroke injury is more severe in the minority of patients that suffer stroke while asleep. To better mimic the clinical situation, it is therefore preferable to analyze the pathobiology of experimental stroke in awake animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  This model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in awake mice is based on insertion of an intraluminal suture via the external carotid artery during isoflurane anesthesia. Isoflurane is discontinued during the 60 min MCAO while cerebral blood flow is continuously monitored using laser doppler in the awake unrestrained mouse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty minutes of awake MCAO model reliably induced infarction in striatum and cortex (relative infarct volume is 24.34% of contralateral hemisphere volume; absolute infarct volume is 47.94 mm3).
  
  
  METHODS
  The animals in this method are awake during the one hour occlusion period, which may provide a more translational research approach than existing methods that apply anesthesia during the occlusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since the state of brain activity likely affects stroke injury and most anesthetics have neuroprotective effects, this model more accurately mimics the condition during which the majority of human ischemic stroke occurs.
authors: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors: Lulu
authors: L
authors: Xie
authors: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors: Hongyi
authors: H
authors: Kang
authors: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors: Maiken
authors: M
authors: Nedergaard
keywords: Awake Mouse; MCAO; Stroke; Transient MCAO