Short report
Photochemically induced ischemic stroke in rats
- † Equal contributors
1 Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebäude A1, 48149, Münster, Germany
2 EVK Bielefeld, Bethel, Neurologische Klinik, Burgsteig 13, 33617, Bielefeld, Germany
Experimental & Translational Stroke Medicine 2012, 4:13 doi:10.1186/2040-7378-4-13
Published: 9 August 2012Abstract
Background
Photothrombosis was introduced as a model of ischemic stroke by Watson et al. in 1985. In the present paper, we describe a protocol to induce photothrombotic infarcts in rats.
Findings
The photosensitive dye Bengal Rose is intravenously administered and a laser beam is stereotactically positioned onto the skull. Illumination through the intact skull leads to local activation of Bengal Rose, which results in free radical formation, disturbance of endothelial function and thrombus formation in illuminated small cortical vessels.
Conclusions
Photochemically induced infarcts cause long-term sensorimotor deficits, allow long-term survival and are particularly suitable to assess the effectiveness of neuroregenerative therapies in chronic stroke studies.
