Ischaemic stroke

Authors:

Nathalie Percie du Sert

Alessio Alfieri

Stuart M. Allan

Hilary VO. Carswell

Graeme A. Deuchar

Tracy D. Farr

Paul Flecknell

Lindsay Gallagher

Claire L. Gibson

Michael J. Haley

Malcolm R. Macleod

Barry W. McColl

Christopher McCabe

Anna Morancho

Lawrence DF. Moon

Michael J. O’Neill

Isabel Pérez de Puig

Anna Planas

C Ian Ragan

Anna Rosell

Lisa A. Roy

Kathryn O. Ryder

Alba Simats

Emily S. Sena

Brad A. Sutherland

Mark D. Tricklebank

Rebecca C. Trueman

Lucy Whitfield

Raymond Wong

I. Mhairi Macrae

Publication:

Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 37(11), 3488-3517 doi:10.1177/0271678X17709185

Publish Date:

11 August 2017

Background

Animal stroke models have improved our understanding of ischaemic brain damage in mammals. Since most of these pathological processes are similar across species, rodent models of ischaemic stroke are widely used for the evaluation and discovery of novel treatments.

Summary

This review offers practical advice for improving ischemic stroke models, specifically the most common rodent models of middle cerebral artery occlusion. The goal is to enhance both the scientific quality and the welfare of the animals used. It provides recommendations to reduce severity, covering everything from pre-surgery preparation and anaesthesia to care during and after the procedure. Ultimately, this guidance aims to help researchers and animal care staff make small but impactful changes that benefit animal welfare while ensuring robust scientific outcomes.

Key Actions

Choose the right model.
Allow the animals to acclimatise to their new environment before the procedures.
Provide appropriate housing, bedding material and enrichment, taking into account that these may be refined post-stroke.
Refine anaesthetic, analgesic, and surgical protocols.
Identify appropriate, early humane endpoints.

Graphic illustration of the human brain.

Read the full Ischaemic stroke report

Download report

Further questions

Surgery to induce a stroke can lead to post-operative pain. Animals will also experience physiological impairments, including temperature dysregulation, cardiorespiratory depression, dehydration, malnutrition and co-morbidities, e.g. if they are aged or have pre-existing conditions. There are likely to be distressing behavioural and social disruptions, including impaired ability to groom, eat, drink and move.
Good post-operative care and pain management are essential, as are ensuring good temperature control and hydration. Return animals to their pre-stroke social groups as soon as they have sufficiently recovered. Make sure that cages have plenty of nesting material and shelters, for thermal comfort and feelings of safety. You can acclimatise animals to the post-operative nesting material and food (plus the method of delivery, e.g. on the cage floor) before the stroke is induced. Use refined handling methods like cupping or tunnels for mice, and grasping around the shoulders for rats, to reduce anxiety and stress.

Authors

Nathalie Percie du Sert - National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)

Alessio Alfieri - University of Edinburgh

Stuart M. Allan - University of Manchester

Hilary VO Carswell - University of Strathclyde

Graeme A. Deuchar - University of Glasgow, Arum Biosciences

Tracy D. Farr - University of Nottingham

Paul Flecknell - Newcastle University

Lindsay Gallagher - University of Glasgow, Arum Biosciences

Claire L. Gibson - University of Leicester

Michael J. Haley - University of Manchester

Malcolm R. Macleod - University of Edinburgh

Barry W. McColl - University of Edinburgh

Christopher McCabe - University of Glasgow, Arum Biosciences

Anna Morancho - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Lawrence DF Moon - King's College London

Michael J. O’Neill - Eli Lilly and Co.

Isabel Pérez de Puig - Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona

Anna Planas - Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona

C. Ian Ragan - NC3Rs Board

Anna Rosell - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Lisa A. Roy - University of Glasgow, Arum Biosciences

Kathryn O. Ryder - Home Office

Alba Simats - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Emily S. Sena - University of Edinburgh

Brad A. Sutherland - University of Oxford; University of Tasmania

Mark D. Tricklebank - King’s College London

Rebecca C. Trueman - University of Nottingham

Lucy Whitfield - Royal Veterinary College

Raymond Wong - University of Manchester

I Mhairi Macrae - University of Glasgow, Arum Biosciences