The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical and histopathological findings in a canine model of ischemic stroke. Cerebral ischemic stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in four healthy beagle dogs using silicone plugs. They showed neurological signs of forebrain dysfunction such as reduced responsiveness, head turning, circling, postural reaction deficits, perceptual deficits, and hemianopsia. These signs gradually regressed within 4 weeks without therapy. On magnetic resonance imaging, T2 hyperintensity and T1 hypointensity were found in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. These lesions were well-defined and sharply demarcated from adjacent brain parenchyma with a homogenous appearance. No abnormalities of the cerebrospinal fluid were observed. At necropsy, atrophic and necrotic lesions were observed in the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus were partially unstained with triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride. Histopathologically, typical features of infarction were identified in cortical and thalamic lesions. This study demonstrates that our canine model resembles the conditions of real stroke patients.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Brain/metabolism/pathology ; Cerebral Infarction/*etiology/*pathology ; Cerebrospinal Fluid/chemistry/cytology ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Dogs ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/*complications/*pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a serious complication of ovulation induction and has a diverse clinical spectrum from edema to thromboembolism. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, one of the well known hypercoagulable states, can be also manifested as an arterial or venous thrombosis and recurrent spontaneous abortion. Sometimes a patient with antiphospholipid antibodies might not notice a miscarriage and seek for assisted reproduction treatment, which harbors a chance of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. If this happens, the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can exacerbate the thrombotic complication of underlying antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, resulting in a catastrophic vascular event. The authors experienced a case of middle cerebral artery infarct, which developed during ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a 33-yr-old woman with a previous history of fetal loss. An elevated titer of anticardiolipin antibodies was noticed and persisted thereafter. The authors suggest screening tests for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies before controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.
Adult ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin/blood ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome/*complications/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/*etiology/pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome/*complications/pathology ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; *Pregnancy Complications/pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (, BYHWD) on estradiol (E2) and estradiol receptor (ER) in serum and brain in ovariectomized rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

METHODSAdult female rats were ovariectomized and focal cerebral ischemic was induced by MCAO. Rats were randomly divided into normal, ovariectomy (OVX), MCAO, OVX+MCAO, OVX+MCAO+E2, and OVX+MCAO+BYHWD group. Rats were administered BYHWD 5 g/kg daily, estradiol valerate 500 μg/kg per day or distilled water for 7 consecutive days. Neuronal function and infarct volume were measured on day 7 after artery occlusion, and E2 and ER concentration in serum and brain were checked by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSBYHWD significantly improved the neurological behavior, reduced the infarction volume, increased E2 concentration in serum and brain, and increased ER concentration in the brain in ovariectomized rats after MCAO.

CONCLUSIONThe neuroprotective effects of BYHWD are associated with estrogen and its receptor.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Ovariectomy ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Estradiol ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of total saponins of Rubus parviflolius (TSRP) on brain edema and blood brain barrier in rats.

METHODThe model of local cerebral ischemia was established in rats by reversible inserting a nylon thread into the anterior cerebral artery through the internal carotid artery brain hydrated amount and content change of Evan' s blue (EB) in cortex subjected to 2h middle cererbral artery occlusion (MACO) followed by 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h reperfusion and effect of TSRP. penetrability of blood brain-barrier (BBB) the index includes brain hydrated amount and penetrability of blood brain-barrier BBB.

RESULTCom- pared with I/R group. Both brain hydrated amount and the EB content decreased significantly in TSRP groups on the 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h of reperfusion after 2 hour of cerebral ischemia induced by MACO model.

CONCLUSIONTSRP could decrease brain hydrated amount and markedly lower permeability of blood-brain barrier subjected to 2 h MACO followed by 24 h reperfusion, and this may be a mechanism of TSRP alleviating brain edema during I/R.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; Brain Edema ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; complications ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; Rosaceae ; chemistry ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

In this research project, rats were made into animal models of acute focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (IR) by occlusion of their middle cerebral artery (MCAO). We observed the effect of endogenous endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and serum cytokines on cerebral ischemia rats treated by electro-acupuncture(EA). The results showed: MCAO model had high stability after EA treatment which was delivered via the acupuncture needles inserted into "quchi" and "zusanli" points, the nervous functions of cerebral IR rats recovered faster than those of rats not treated; EPCs in rats' blood increased after acute focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion; and the growth rate was obvious in IR group. This phenomenon might be related to the inflammation elicited by injury of ischemia and self-repair. Besides, EA treatment could decrease induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, alleviate injury after cerebral ischemia, and regulate the quantity of EPCs in blood. The quantity of EPCs in blood increased in IR-24hr. In IR-48 hr, the rise of EPCs quantity was significant (P < 0.01). The level of vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) in serum of rats after cerebral ischemia was escalated, which indicated to a certain extent that cerebral ischemia could stimulate stress reaction. EA treatment could raise VEGF level, which suggested that high expression of VEGF could accelerate mobilization, chemotaxis and homing of EPCs. At the same time, the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) also changed. In conclusion, EA treatment could promote neovascularization after cerebral ischemia by mobilizing EPCs, decreasing iNOS activity and increasing VEGF level. This may be one of the ways by which EA could treat cerebral ischemia.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; blood ; complications ; pathology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Electroacupuncture ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; pathology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Xuezhikang and simvastatin on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat, as well as the influences after intervention with L-NAME.

METHODRats were given orally with Xuezhikang and simvastatin or vehicle for 2 weeks, and then subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion for 120 min using intraluminal filament model. L-NAME were injected into the lateral ventricles in half of the rats treated with Xuezhikang and simvastatin 45 min before the ischemia. The neurological deficits examinations were performed at 2, 24, 48 h after reperfusion. After the last examination the animals were sacrificed, the infarct volumes were determined by TTC staining, and MDA levels were also measured.

RESULTXuezhikang and simvastatin both significantly reduced the infarct volume and improved the functional recovery when compared to vehicle. Xuezhikang and simvastatin both significantly decreased the MDA accumulation after reperfusion. L-NAME partially inhibited the protective effect of Xuezhikang but nearly completely abolished the protective effect of simvastatin.

CONCLUSIONXuezhikang has protective effects on ischemic brain damage in rats, which the beneficial effects are partly due to the statins components. The other components in Xuezhikang may also account for the neuroprotective effects, which is worth further investigations.

Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Ischemia ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; complications ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction (CI).

METHODSBetween November 2008 and March 2009, 147 CI patients (CI group) and 48 patients with non-cerebrovascular diseases (control group) were enrolled from inpatients of Neurology Department of our hospital. The diagnostic criterion of thickened carotid intima was set as 1.0 mm

RESULTSIn the CI group, 36 (24.5%) patients had normal carotid intima, 22 (15.0%) had thickened carotid intima, and 89 (60.5%) had carotid plaque. In the control group, 22 (45.8%) patients had normal carotid intima, 4 (8.3%) had thickened carotid intima, and 22 (45.8%) had carotid plaque. The severity of carotid atherosclerosis in the CI group was higher than that in the control group (P = 0.022). There was significant difference in the constitution of carotid plaque between the two groups (P = 0.001); the CI group mainly had the soft plaque (55/89, 61.8%), whereas the control group mainly had the hard plaque (17/22, 77.3%). The first three common locations of carotid plaque in both groups were carotid bifurcation (CI group: 73.7%; control group: 64.1%), common carotid artery (CI group: 20.4%; control group: 25.6%), and internal carotid artery (CI group: 5.9%; control group: 10.3%). The location of carotid plaque between the two groups was not significantly different (P = 0.438). There was no difference in the carotid inner diameter or resistance index between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCarotid atherosclerosis is to some extent able to reveal the atherosclerotic condition of cerebral arteries and act as an important predictor for the risk of CI. The color Doppler ultrasonography of carotid arteries can provide a convenient way for the prevention and treatment of CI.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; complications ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

The effect of recombinant microplasmin (micro-plasmin) on acute cerebral infarction was evaluated in rats, and compared with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). After the model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established by autologous blood clots, different doses of micro-plasmin (2.5, 5, and 10 mg x kg(-1)) were administered into the thrombus intra-arterial. Twelve hours after administration of micro-plasmin, the neurological deficit score of rats was recorded and the infarct volumes were determined. Bleeding time (BT), fibrin degradation product (FDP) concentration in serum and thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT) and fibrinogen (FIB) concentration in plasma were tested after administration. Intra-arterial administration of micro-plasmin could reduce significantly neurological deficit score and infarct volumes in MCAO rats. FDP concentration increased significantly as compared with model group. There were no significant differences in TT, PT and BT. FIB concentration reduced markedly as compared with model group, but had no significant difference as compared with sham group. The results suggest that micro-plasmin is effective in treatment of rat acute cerebral infarction, and has no significant influence on fibrinolytic system and blood clotting system, indicating that micro-plasmin may be useful for treatment of acute cerebral infarction, and not lead to hemorrhage. Micro-plasmin seems to be distinguished from clinical used rt-PA by its no hemorrhage effect.
Animals ; Bleeding Time ; Brain ; pathology ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Fibrinolysin ; pharmacology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; complications ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; Prothrombin Time ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Thrombin Time ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; pharmacology

This study is to observe the effect of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) on neural cells damage and neurogenesis in sub-granular zone (SGZ) and sub-ventricular zone (SVZ) after brain ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats. A modified middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was used. The rats were divided into four groups: sham control group, ischemia-reperfusion group, Sal B 1 and 10 mg x kg(-1) groups. Sal B was consecutively administrated once a day by ip injection after MCAO. The neurogenesis in SGZ and SVZ was investigated by BrdU method 7 days after MCAO. The Nissl staining for neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and cerebral cortex was performed 14 days after MCAO. A beam-walking test was used to monitor the motor function recovery. We found that brain ischemia resulted in an increase of BrdU positive cells both in ipsilateral SGZ and SVZ at 7th day after MCAO. Sal B (10 mg x kg(-1)) significantly increased further the number of BrdU positive cells both in SGZ and SVZ (P < 0.01). Ipsilateral hippocampal neuron damage occurred and CA1 almost lost 14 days after MCAO. Sal B (10 mg x kg(-1)) obviously attenuated the neuron damage and increased the number of neuron both in ipsilateral CA1 and cerebral cortex (P < 0.01). We also observed an obvious improvement of motor function recovery when Sal B (10 mg x kg(-1)) administrated. From the results above we concluded that Sal B stimulated neurogenesis process both in SGZ and SVZ after brain ischemia, and also alleviated neural cells loss and improved motor function recovery after brain ischemia in rats.
Animals ; Benzofurans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Count ; Cerebral Cortex ; pathology ; Cerebral Ventricles ; pathology ; Dentate Gyrus ; pathology ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; complications ; Male ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neurons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish a general method of focal cerebral ischemia model in different varieties of mice.

METHODEach group of healthy adult KM and C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and MCAO group (n = 10). The mice in MCAO group were applied in the preparation of the MCAO model by intraluminal occlusion using monofilament. Twenty-four hours after operation,the neurologic function was evaluated,middle cerebral artery blood flow was monitored and the infarction volume was calculated by TTC staining, to evaluate the reliability of the model.

RESULTIn the MCAO group, the base value of the cerebral blood flow down of KM and C57BL/6 mice respectively was (81.65 ± 4.59)%, (83.68 ± 6.25)%. The neurological deficit score respectively was (2.30 ± 0.82), (2.50 ± 0.80). TTC staining can clearly show the infarction area, and relatively stable, 24 hours of the survival rate of KM and C57BL/6 mice were 100% and 80% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe key link is the optimization and improvement of monofilament, temperature, anesthesia and so on. The modified intraluminal occlusion of MCAO using monofilament is a kind of reliable and simple method to establish experimental cerebral ischemia model in mice.

Animals ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Brain ; blood supply ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; complications ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Species Specificity