A Versatile Murine Model of Subcortical White Matter Stroke for the Study of Axonal Degeneration and White Matter Neurobiology

Summary

Here we present methodology for the production of a focal stroke in murine white matter by local injection of an irreversible endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inhibitor (L-Nio). Presented are two stereotactic variations, retrograde neuronal tracing, and fresh tissue labeling and dissection that expand the potential applications of this technique.

Abstract

Stroke affecting white matter accounts for up to 25% of clinical stroke presentations, occurs silently at rates that may be 5-10 fold greater, and contributes significantly to the development of vascular dementia. Few models of focal white matter stroke exist and this lack of appropriate models has hampered understanding of the neurobiologic mechanisms involved in injury response and repair after this type of stroke. The main limitation of other subcortical stroke models is that they do not focally restrict the infarct to the white matter or have primarily been validated in non-murine species. This limits the ability to apply the wide variety of murine research tools to study the neurobiology of white matter stroke. Here we present a methodology for the reliable production of a focal stroke in murine white matter using a local injection of an irreversible eNOS inhibitor. We also present several variations on the general protocol including two unique stereotactic variations, retrograde neuronal tracing, as well as fresh tissue labeling and dissection that greatly expand the potential applications of this technique. These variations allow for multiple approaches to analyze the neurobiologic effects of this common and understudied form of stroke.

Introduction

Stroke affecting the subcortical white matter is a common clinical entity, accounting for up to 25% of clinical strokes annually in the US ¹. Ischemic damage to white matter also occurs silently at a significantly higher rate and contributes to the development of vascular dementia ^2,3. Presently, patients with this form of cerebral ischemia have few, if any treatment choices. Despite the clinical importance of this disease, few clinically relevant animal models exist ^4,5.

The goal of this protocol is to produce a focal ischemic lesion within the murine white matter. This murine model of human disease allows....

Protocol

The use of animals in this protocol has been performed in accordance with procedures approved by the University of California Los Angeles Animal Care and Use Committee.

Note: Begin by identifying the target murine population. In prior studies, only male wild-type C57/Bl6 mice have been used, however various transgenic or knockout mice can also be used. Note that stereotactic coordinates are based on C57/Bl6 anatomy. It is recommended that each user initially verify localization of the stroke t.......

Discussion

A number of prior models of subcortical stroke have been described including focal injections of endothelin-1 into the internal capsule, subcortical white matter and striatum in the rat ^12-14 and mouse ^6,15. More recent models of small focal strokes have utilized cholesterol microemboli injection in the carotid artery ¹⁶ and photothrombotic occlusion of a single penetrating arteriole ¹⁷. Each of these models has both advantages and disadvantages ⁵. The presently desc.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
L-N5-(1-Iminoethyl)ornithine, Dihydrochloride	Calbiochem	400600-20MG
Isoflurane	Phoenix Pharmaceutical, Inc.	NDC 57319-559-06
Capillary tubes	World Precision Instruments	50-821-807
Picospritzer	Parker Instrumentation	Picospritzer II
Stereotactic setup	Kent Scientific	KSC51725
Pipette puller	KOPF	Model 720
Stereomicroscope SZ51	Olympus	88-124
Fine scissors	Fine Scientific Tools	14084-08
Forceps	Harvard Apparatus	PY2 72-8547
Curved Forceps	Harvard Apparatus	PY2 72-8598
Blunt dissection tool	Fine Scientific Tools	10066-15
Drill	Dremel	8220-1/28
Drill bits	Fine Scientific Tools	19007-05
Vetbond	3M	1469SB
Marcaine	HOSPIRA	NDC 0409-1610-50
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethaxole	STI Pharmacy	NDC 54879-007-16
Fluororuby	Fluorochrome Inc	30mg
Paraformaldehyde	Fisher	O4042-500
Sucrose	Fisher	BP220-10
Cryostat	Leica CM3050 S	14047033518
Glass slides	Fisher	12-544-7
Fast Green	Sigma	F7252-5G
Dissection microscope	Nikon	SMZ1500
23 gauge butterfly needle	Fisher	14-840-35
10X Hank's Balanced Salt Solution	Life Technologies	14065056
1M HEPES-KOH, pH 7.4	Affymetrix	16924
D-Glucose	Sigma	G8270
Sodium bicarbonate	Sigma	S5761
Cyclohexamide	Sigma	01810