Inducing Thrombotic Stroke Through Hypoxia and Ischemia in a Mouse Model

Begin with an anesthetized and secured mouse.

Remove hair from the mouse's neck and disinfect the surgical site.

Make an incision on the neck and retract the underlying muscle and trachea to expose the right common carotid artery.

The carotid artery supplies the oxygenated blood to the brain.

Tie two knots around the artery to restrict the upward blood flow.

Suture the incision and transfer the mouse to a low-oxygen chamber. Insert a rectal probe to monitor body temperature, then adjust the heat lamp to maintain the appropriate temperature.

The low oxygen in the chamber reduces the mouse's blood oxygen levels, creating a hypoxia condition.

With the carotid artery sutured, the blood and oxygen supply to the brain are further reduced. This leads to ischemia, which causes neuronal damage.

Gradually, blood components adhere to the vessel wall, forming a clot or thrombus.

This obstructs the blood flow, increasing neuronal damage and inducing a thrombotic stroke.