Establishment of a reproducible and minimally invasive ischemic stroke model in swine

The need for advances in the management/treatment options for ischemic stroke patients requires that upcoming preclinical research uses animals with more human-like brain characteristics. The porcine brain is considered appropriate, although the presence of the rete mirabile (RM) prevents direct catheterization of the intracranial arteries to produce focal cerebral ischemia. To develop a reproducible minimally invasive porcine stroke model, a guide catheter and guide wire were introduced through the femoral artery until reaching the left RM. Using the pressure cooker technique, Squid-12 embolization material was deposited to fill, overflow, and occlude the left RM, the left internal carotid artery, and left circle of Willis wing up to the origins of the middle cerebral arteries (MCAs), mimicking the occlusion produced in the filament model in rodents. Longitudinal multimodal cerebral MRI was conducted to assess the brain damage and cerebral blood supply. The technique we describe here occluded up to the origins of the MCAs in 7 of 8 swine, inducing early damage 90 minutes after occlusion that later evolved to a large cerebral infarction and producing no mortality during the intervention. This minimally invasive ischemic stroke model in swine produced reproducible infarcts and shows translational features common to human stroke.

Automated summary

The need for better management/treatment options for ischemic stroke patients requires the use of animal models with brain characteristics closer to humans. The porcine brain is suitable, but direct catheterization of intracranial arteries is hindered by the rete mirabile. To create a reproducible minimally invasive porcine stroke model, a guide catheter and guide wire were used to occlude the left rete mirabile and internal carotid artery, mimicking occlusion in rodent stroke models. MRI was used to assess brain damage and blood supply. This model consistently produced infarcts and had translational features common to human stroke.