Endothelin-1 induced MCAO: Dose dependency of cerebral blood flow

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize the magnitude and duration of cerebral blood flow (CBF) reduction in the somatosensory cortical region in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced by endothelin-1 (ET1) microinjection under isoflurane anesthesia. MCAO was induced by microinjection of ET1 proximal to the MCA in 41 isoflurane-anesthetized male Sprague–Dawley rats. Three doses of ET1 were studied, 60 pmol (Group 1), 150 pmol (Group 2), and 300 pmol (Group 3). CBF was monitored for 4 h following injection using a laser Doppler probe stereotaxically inserted into the left somatosensory cortical region. Computed tomography perfusion imaging was used to verify the extent and duration of blood flow reduction in a subset of 12 animals. The magnitude and duration of blood flow reduction was variable (60–92% of baseline). The 300 pmol dose provided the greatest sustained decrease in blood flow. Evidence of tissue damage was obtained in cases where CBF decreased to <40% of baseline. At the doses studied, ET1-induced ischemia in the presence of isoflurane anesthesia can be used as a minimally invasive but variable model of MCAO. The model is well suited for acute imaging studies of ischemia.