The work was funded by a fellowship from the
Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, and a training
grant from the Institute for Medicine and Engineering (T32HL007954) at
the University of Pennsylvania and the Marlene L. Cohen and Jerome H.
Fleisch Scholar Grant at the University of Connecticut Health Center
(LHS) and NIH NS-029331(FAW).

1. Preparation of equipment
<ol>
<li>Wipe down the stereotaxic frame and pump with 75% ethanol to minimize bacterial contamination.</li>
<li>Sterilize Hamilton syringe and fused silica needle. 
Note: If chemical sterilization is used, be sure to rinse several times in sterile water before use.</li>
<li>Wipe surface of paraffin wax paper with 75% ethanol and allow to dry.</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of mouse for injection
Note: Have mice delivered to your animal facility at least 7 days before the surgery to allow them to acclimate to the new environment and reduce stress.
<ol>
<li>Weigh mouse for pre-operative baseline.</li>
<li>Induce anesthesia with 30% Oxygen, 70% Nitrous oxide, and 4% Isoflurane until unresponsive to tail pinch</li>
<li>Inject mouse with buprenorphine 0.1mg/kg intraperitoneally for post-operative analgesia</li>
<li>Shave scalp</li>
<li>Coat eyes with sterile petroleum jelly</li>
<li>Prepare scalp with betadine x 3 wipes, then allow scalp to dry</li>
<li>Make 1 cm midline sagittal incision of scalp using sterile surgical scalpel 
Note: A generous incision will allow complete exposure of skull landmarks.</li>
<li>Shave 1 cm of ventral surface of tail beginning 1 cm from base and prepare with betadine x 3 wipes</li>
<li>Place mouse on stereotaxic frame 
Note: It is important to ensure mouse is secure in the frame with surface of skull parallel with the base of the frame, with excellent exposure of bregma and at least 3 mm to the right of bregma.</li>
</ol>
3. Intracerebral hemorrhage surgery 
Notes: During the entire surgery the mouse is anesthetized with 30% Oxygen, 70% Nitrous oxide, and 1-3% Isoflurane, continuously maintained at 37 &plusmn; 0.5&deg;C using a thermistor-controlled heating pad and monitored by rectal thermometer.
<ol>
<li>Attach sterile 27 g needle on 1 cc syringe on frame.</li>
<li>Adjust stereotaxic arm until needle is exactly over bregma.</li>
<li>Adjust arm so that needle is at +2.5 mm lateral to bregma and lower to surface of skull.</li>
<li>Manually rotate syringe to make burr hole on surface of skull while applying gentle downward movement of frame- taking care not to completely perforate skull.</li>
<li>Remove needle and complete burr hole manually with syringe/needle 
Note: Completing the burr hole by hand allows for immediate recognition when you have perforated the inner table of skull and minimizes risk of inadvertently pushing needle into brain parenchyma.</li>
<li>Make transverse incision on ventral surface of tail using sterile surgical blade and allow 2-3 large drops of arterial blood to fall onto paraffin wax paper. Then quickly stop bleeding with pressure using sterile gauze.</li>
<li>Withdraw 17 &mu;L blood into Hamilton syringe and place syringe on pump.</li>
<li>Adjust stereotaxic arm to point 5&deg; medially relative to vertical axis.</li>
<li>Carefully adjust stereotaxic arm so that tip of the needle is over the burr hole in skull and then lower needle 3.5 mm.</li>
<li>Wait 2 minutes then withdraw the needle 0.5 mm (so that tip is 3 mm deep)</li>
<li>Wait 5 minutes to allow the brain to re-expand around the needle and minimize risk of blood refluxing up the needle insertion track during injection.</li>
<li>Inject blood 1 &mu;L/minute for 7.5 &mu;L.</li>
<li>Wait 5 minutes to allow initial blood clotting and for tissue shifts to occur to minimize elevations in intracranial pressure.</li>
<li>Inject the remaining 7.5 &mu;L at 1 &mu;L/minute</li>
<li>Allow needle to remain in place for 25 minutes to allow for blood clotting 
Note: Failure to wait for blood clotting will result in blood refluxing up the needle insertion site when withdrawing the needle</li>
<li>Slowly withdraw the needle and immediately rinse with hot water to prevent any residual blood in the needle from clotting and ensure reusability of needle.</li>
<li>Remove the mouse from the frame and close the tail and scalp incisions with veterinary surgical glue.</li>
<li>Turn off anesthesia.</li>
<li>Allow to mouse to awaken while being continuously warmed with free access to moistened food.</li>
<li>Return mouse to cage with littermates when fully awake. Place wet food pellet on the bottom of cage to help animals in access to food. </li>
</ol>
4. Representative results:
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/2618/2618fig1.jpg" alt="Figure 1"/> Figure 1. Coronal section of mouse brain 15 minutes after ICH surgery. Immediately after sacrifice the brain was inspected for ICH success based on gross inspection of a coronal section at the needle insertion site. Hemorrhages that tracked down to the base of the brain, up the needle track past the corpus callosum, or into the ventricles were deemed unsuccessful and that mouse was eliminated from all analyses. Overall ICH success rates were 75-85% in 50 mice with 0% mortality.
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/2618/2618fig2.jpg" alt="Figure 2"/> Figure 2. Cylinder testing demonstrates left hemiparesis after right basal ganglia ICH. (A) Sample mouse rear after ICH surgery. Note the placement of only the right forelimb on the wall of the cylinder after left basal ganglia ICH. (B) Graph of cylinder testing 1 results from cohort of mice after ICH surgery (n=5) compared to sham (n=4). Sham mice had all procedures except blood injection (needle was inserted into brain). Each mouse was placed in a 12-cm diameter clear glass cylinder and observed for 20 rears. The initial placement of the forelimbs on the wall of the cylinder was scored per rear. Subsequent movements (such as lateral exploration) were not scored until the mouse returned to the ground and the next rear scored. The laterality index was calculated as (# right forelimb placements on the side of the cylinder - # left forelimb placements)/(# right + # left + # both), where 0 indicated no forelimb preference and 1 indicated only the right forelimb was used.

<ol>
	<li>Hua, Y., Schallert, T., Keep, R. F., Wu, J., Hoff, J. T., Xi, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavioral+Tests+After+Intracerebral+Hemorrhage+in+the+Rat.">Behavioral Tests After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the Rat.</a> Stroke. 33, 2478-2484 (2002).</li><li>James, M., Warner, D., Laskowitz, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preclinical+Models+of+Intracerebral+Hemorrhage:+A+Translational+Perspective.">Preclinical Models of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Translational Perspective.</a> Neurocritical Care. 9, 139-152 (2008).</li><li>Foerch, C., Arai, K., Jin, G., Park, K. -. P., Pallast, S., van Leyen, K., Lo, E. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+Model+of+Warfarin-Associated+Intracerebral+Hemorrhage.">Experimental Model of Warfarin-Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage.</a> Stroke. 39, 3397-3404 (2008).</li><li>Nakamura, T., Xi, G., Hua, Y., Schallert, T., Hoff, J. T., Keep, R. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intracerebral+hemorrhage+in+mice:+model+characterization+and+application+for+genetically+modified+mice.">Intracerebral hemorrhage in mice: model characterization and application for genetically modified mice.</a> Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 24, 487-494 (2004).</li><li>Rynkowski, M. A., Kim, G. H., Komotar, R. J., Otten, M. L., Ducruet, A. F., Zacharia, B. E., Kellner, C. P., Hahn, D. K., Merkow, M. B., Garrett, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+mouse+model+of+intracerebral+hemorrhage+using+autologous+blood+infusion.">A mouse model of intracerebral hemorrhage using autologous blood infusion.</a> Nat. Protocols. 3, 122-128 (2008).</li><li>Wang, J., Fields, J., Dor&#233;, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+development+of+an+improved+preclinical+mouse+model+of+intracerebral+hemorrhage+using+double+infusion+of+autologous+whole+blood.">The development of an improved preclinical mouse model of intracerebral hemorrhage using double infusion of autologous whole blood.</a> Brain Research. 1222, 214-221 (2008).</li><li>Zhao, X., Sun, G., Zhang, J., Strong, R., Song, W., Gonzales, N., Grotta, J. C., Aronowski, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hematoma+resolution+as+a+target+for+intracerebral+hemorrhage+treatment:+Role+for+peroxisome+proliferator-activated+receptor+&#947;+in+microglia/macrophages.">Hematoma resolution as a target for intracerebral hemorrhage treatment: Role for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor &#947; in microglia/macrophages.</a> Annals of Neurology. 61, 352-362 (2007).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

This surgical model of intracerebral hemorrhage in mice using autologous tail artery blood results in a reproducible model of spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhage. An ICH model in mice offers the advantage of the availability of transgenic animals to investigate pathophysiology; however, their small size makes neurosurgical procedures more technically difficult than in larger animals. 
The collagenase model and the autologous blood injection model are two well-established models of experiment...

Stereotaxic frame for mouse neurosurgery (Stoelting, 51925)
Microinfusion pump and processor (UMP-3 and Micro4, World Precision Instruments, Sarasota, FL)
Mouse warmer (Stoelting, 50300)
Inhalational mouse anesthesia (Braintree Scientific, EZ-AF9000)
25 &mu;L gastight borosilicate Hamilton syringe with coated plunger and no needle 
(Hamilton company, Reno, NV, 1702RN syringe: 765401, ferrule: 30949, spacer: 30946)
fused silica needle cut to 2 cm length (Hamilton, 17739) 
*note Hamilton syringe and fused silica needle may be reused for multiple surgeries if sterilized prior to each surgery. These materials are crucial to avoid blood clotting.
Sterile surgical gloves
Surgical gown, bonnet and mask
Betadine
75% ethanol
sterile 27 g needle (single use)
sterile 1 cc syringe (single use)
sterile surgical blade
Cidex
sterile water
buprenorphine and isoflurane
sterile gauze
paraffin wax paper squares
Veterinary surgical glue (Vetbond, 3M, St. Paul, MN)

autologous blood injection to model spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in mice

Investigation of the pathophysiology of injury after intracerebral
hemorrhage (ICH) requires a reproducible animal model. While ICH
accounts for 10-15% of all strokes, there remains no specific
effective therapy. The autologous blood injection model in mice
involves the stereotaxic injection of arterial blood into the basal
ganglia mimicking a spontaneous hypertensive hemorrhage in man. The
response to hemorrhage can then be studied in vivo and the
neurobehavioral deficits quantified, allowing for description of the
ensuing pathology and the testing of potential therapeutic agents. The
procedure described in this protocol uses the double injection
technique to minimize risk of blood reflux up the needle track, no
anticoagulants in the pumping system, and eliminates all dead space
and expandable tubing in the system.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Autologous Blood Injection to Model Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice at JoVE.com

Autologous Blood Injection to Model Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice

The autologous blood injection model of intracerebral hemorrhage in mice described in this protocol uses the double injection technique to minimize risk of blood reflux up the needle track, no anticoagulants in the pumping system, and eliminates all dead space and expandable tubing in the system.

Investigation of the pathophysiology of injury after intracerebral
hemorrhage (ICH) requires a reproducible animal model.  While ICH
accounts for 10-15% ...

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14.6K Views.  University of Connecticut Health Center. The autologous blood injection model of intracerebral hemorrhage in mice described in this protocol uses the double injection technique to minimize risk of blood reflux up the needle track, no anticoagulants in the pumping system, and eliminates all dead space and expandable tubing in the system.

Video: Autologous Blood Injection to Model Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice

Methods to Characterize Spontaneous and Startle-induced Locomotion in a Rotenone-induced Parkinson's Disease Model of Drosophila

Parkinson&#8217;s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system, primarily in the substantia nigra. The disease causes motor deficiencies, which present as rigidity, tremors and dementia in humans. Rotenone is an insecticide that causes oxidative damage by inhibiting the function of the electron transport chain in mitochondria. It is also used to model Parkinson&#8217;s disease in the Drosophila. Flies have an inherent negative geotactic response, which compels them to climb upwards upon being startled. It has been established that rotenone causes early mortality and locomotion defects that disrupt the flies&#8217; ability to climb after they have been tapped downwards. However, the effect of rotenone on spontaneous movement is not well documented. This study outlines two sensitive, reproducible, and high throughput assays to characterize rotenone-induced deficiencies in short-term startle-induced locomotion and long-term spontaneous locomotion in Drosophila. These assays can be conveniently adapted to characterize other Drosophila models of locomotion defects and efficacy of therapeutic agents.

Methods to Characterize Spontaneous and Startle-induced Locomotion in a Rotenone-induced Parkinson&#039;s Disease Model of Drosophila

Parkinson&#8217;s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system, causing locomotion defects. Rotenone models Parkinson&#8217;s disease in Drosophila. This paper outlines two assays that characterize both spontaneous and startle-induced locomotion deficiencies caused by rotenone.

Parkinson&#8217;s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system, ...

Establishing Mouse Models for Zika Virus-induced Neurological Disorders Using Intracerebral Injection Strategies: Embryonic, Neonatal, and Adult

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus currently endemic in North, Central, and South America. It is now established that the ZIKV can cause microcephaly and additional brain abnormalities. However, the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of ZIKV in the developing brain remains unclear. Intracerebral surgical methods are frequently used in neuroscience research to address questions about both normal and abnormal brain development and brain function. This protocol utilizes classical surgical techniques and describes methods that allow one to model ZIKV-associated human neurological disease in the mouse nervous system. While direct brain inoculation does not model the normal mode of virus transmission, the method allows investigators to ask targeted questions concerning the consequence after ZIKV infection of the developing brain. This protocol describes embryonic, neonatal, and adult stages of intraventricular inoculation of ZIKV. Once mastered, this method can become a straightforward and reproducible technique that only takes a few hours to perform.

Here we describe a method for establishing a model of Zika virus-induced microcephaly in mouse. This protocol includes methods for embryonic, neonatal, and adult-stage intracerebral inoculation of the Zika virus.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus currently endemic in North, Central, and South America. It is now established that the ZIKV can cause microcephaly ...

Rat Model of Widespread Cerebral Cortical Demyelination Induced by an Intracerebral Injection of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and progressively leads to physical disability and death, caused by white matter lesions in the spinal cord and cerebellum, as well as by demyelination in grey matter. Whilst conventional models of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis are suitable for the investigation of the cell-mediated inflammation in the spinal and cerebellar white matter, they fail to address grey matter pathologies. Here, we present the experimental protocol for a novel rat model of cortical demyelination allowing the investigation of the pathological and molecular mechanisms leading to cortical lesions. The demyelination is induced by an immunization with low-dose myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) in an incomplete Freund&#39;s adjuvant followed by a catheter-mediated intracerebral delivery of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The catheter, moreover, enables multiple rounds of demyelination without causing injection-induced trauma, as well as the intracerebral delivery of potential therapeutic drugs undergoing a preclinical investigation. The method is also ethically favorable as animal pain and distress or disability are controlled and relatively minimal. The expected timeframe for the implementation of the entire protocol is around 8 - 10 weeks.

The protocol presented here allows the reproduction of a widespread grey matter demyelination of both cortical hemispheres in adult male Dark Agouti rats. The method comprises of intracerebral implantation of a catheter, subclinical immunization against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, and intracerebral injection of a pro-inflammatory cytokine mixture through the implanted catheter.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and progressively leads to physical disability and ...

A Volumetric Method for Quantification of Cerebral Vasospasm in a Murine Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a subtype of hemorrhagic stroke. Cerebral vasospasm that occurs in the aftermath of the bleeding is an important factor determining patient outcome and is therefore frequently taken as a study endpoint. However, in small animal studies on SAH, quantification of cerebral vasospasm is a major challenge. Here, an ex vivo method is presented that allows quantification of volumes of entire vessel segments, which can be used as an objective measure to quantify cerebral vasospasm. In a first step, endovascular casting of the cerebral vasculature is performed using a radiopaque casting agent. Then, cross-sectional imaging data are acquired by micro computed tomography. The final step involves 3-dimensional reconstruction of the virtual vascular tree, followed by an algorithm to calculate center lines and volumes of the selected vessel segments. The method resulted in a highly accurate virtual reconstruction of the cerebrovascular tree shown by a diameter-based comparison of anatomical samples with their virtual reconstructions. Compared with vessel diameters alone, the vessel volumes highlight the differences between vasospastic and non-vasospastic vessels shown in a series of SAH and sham-operated mice.

The goal of this article is to present a method that allows a 3-dimensional reconstruction of the cerebrovascular tree in mice after micro computed tomography and determination of volumes of entire vessel segments that can be used to quantify cerebral vasospasm in murine models of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a subtype of hemorrhagic stroke. Cerebral vasospasm that occurs in the aftermath of the bleeding is an important factor ...

Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Intracerebral Hemorrhage Evacuation

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subtype of stroke with high mortality and poor functional outcomes, largely because there are no evidence-based treatment options for this devastating disease process. In the past decade, a number of minimally invasive surgeries have emerged to address this issue, one of which is endoscopic evacuation. Stereotactic ICH Underwater Blood Aspiration (SCUBA) is a novel endoscopic evacuation technique performed in a fluid-filled cavity using an aspiration system to provide an additional degree of freedom during the procedure. The SCUBA procedure utilizes a suction device, endoscope, and sheath and is divided into two phases. The first phase involves maximal aspiration and minimal irrigation to decrease clot burden. The second phase involves increasing irrigation for visibility, decreasing aspiration strength for targeted aspiration without disturbing the cavity wall, and cauterizing any bleeding vessels. Using the endoscope and aspiration wand, this technique aims to maximize hematoma evacuation while minimizing collateral damage to the surrounding brain. Advantages of the SCUBA technique include the use of a low-profile endoscopic sheath minimizing brain disruption and improved visualization with a fluid-filled cavity rather than an air-filled one.

This paper details the surgical protocol for minimally invasive endoscopic intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation using the SCUBA technique.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subtype of stroke with high mortality and poor functional outcomes, largely because there are no evidence-based ...

In Vivo Direct Reprogramming of Resident Glial Cells into Interneurons by Intracerebral Injection of Viral Vectors

Converting resident glia in the brain into functional and subtype-specific neurons in vivo provides a step forward towards the development of alternative cell replacement therapies while also creating tools to study cell fate in situ. To date, it has been possible to obtain neurons via in vivo reprogramming, but the precise phenotype of these neurons or how they mature has not been analyzed in detail. In this protocol, we describe a more efficient conversion and cell-specific identification of the in vivo reprogrammed neurons, using an AAV-based viral vector system. We also provide a protocol for functional assessment of the reprogrammed cells&#8217; neuronal maturation. By injecting flip-excision (FLEX) vectors, containing the reprogramming and synapsin-driven reporter genes&#160;to specific cell types in the brain that serve as the target for cell reprogramming. This technique allows for the easy identification of newly reprogrammed neurons. Results show that the obtained reprogrammed neurons functionally mature over time, receive synaptic contacts and show electrophysiological properties of different types of interneurons. Using the transcription factors Ascl1, Lmx1a and Nurr1, the majority of the reprogrammed cells have properties of fast-spiking, parvalbumin-containing interneurons.

This protocol aims at generating directly reprogrammed interneurons in vivo, using an AAV-based viral system in the brain and a FLEX synapsin-driven GFP reporter, which allows for cell identification and further analysis in vivo.

Converting resident glia in the brain into functional and subtype-specific neurons in vivo provides a step forward towards the development of alternative ...

Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Among strokes, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) consecutive to the rupture of a cerebral arterial aneurysm represents 5-9% but is responsible for about 30% of the total stroke-related mortality with an important morbidity in terms of neurological outcome. A delayed cerebral vasospasm (CVS) may occur most often in association with a delayed cerebral ischemia. Different animal models of SAH are now being used including endovascular perforation and direct injection of blood into the cisterna magna or even the prechiasmatic cistern, each exhibiting distinct advantages and disadvantages. In this article, a standardized mouse model of SAH by double direct injection of determined volumes of autologous whole blood into the cisterna magna is presented. Briefly, mice were weighed and then anesthetized by isoflurane inhalation. Then, the animal was placed in a reclining position on a heated blanket maintaining a rectal temperature of 37 &#176;C and positioned in a stereotactic frame with a cervical bend of about 30&#176;. Once in place, the tip of an elongated glass micropipette filled with the homologous arterial blood taken from carotid artery of another mouse of the same age and gender (C57Bl/6J) was positioned at a right angle in contact with the atlanto-occipital membrane by means of a micromanipulator. Then 60 &#181;L of blood was injected in the cisterna magna followed by a 30&#176; downward tilt of the animal for 2 minutes. The second infusion of 30 &#181;L of blood into the cisterna magna was performed 24 h after the first one. The individual follow-up of each animal is carried out daily (careful evaluation of weight and well-being). This procedure allows a predictable and highly reproducible distribution of blood, likely accompanied by intracranial pressure elevation that can be mimicked by an equivalent injection of an artificial cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), and represents an acute to mild-model of SAH inducing low mortality.

We described in this protocol a standardized subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) mouse model by a double injection of autologous whole-blood into the cisterna magna. The high degree of standardization of the double-injection procedure represents a middle-to-acute model of SAH with relative safety regarding mortality.

Among strokes, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) consecutive to the rupture of a cerebral arterial aneurysm represents 5-9% but is responsible for about 30% ...

Massive Pontine Hemorrhage by Dual Injection of Autologous Blood

We provide a protocol to establish a massive pontine hemorrhage model in a rat. Rats weighing about 250 grams were used in this study. One hundred microliters of autologous blood was taken from the tail vein and stereotaxically injected into the pons. The injection process was divided into 2 steps: First, 10 &#181;L of blood was injected into a specific location, anteroposterior position (AP) -9.0 mm; lateral (Lat) 0 mm; vertical (Vert) -9.2 mm, followed by a second injection of the residual blood located at AP -9.0 mm; Lat 0 mm; Vert -9.0 mm with a 20-minute interval. The balance beam test, limb placement test, and the modified Voestch neuroscore were used to evaluate neurological function. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to assess the volume of hemorrhage in vivo. The symptoms of this model were in line with patients with massive pontine hemorrhage.

We present a protocol to establish a massive pontine hemorrhage model in a rat via dual injection of autologous blood.

We provide a protocol to establish a massive pontine hemorrhage model in a rat. Rats weighing about 250 grams were used in this study. One hundred ...

Pre-Chiasmatic, Single Injection of Autologous Blood to Induce Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Rat Model

Despite advances in treatment over the last decades, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) continues to carry a high burden of morbidity and mortality, largely afflicting a fairly young population. Several animal models of SAH have been developed to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms behind SAH and to test pharmacological interventions. The pre-chiasmatic, single injection model in the rat presented in this article is an experimental model of SAH with a predetermined blood volume. Briefly, the animal is anesthetized, intubated, and kept under mechanical ventilation. Temperature is regulated with a heating pad. A catheter is placed in the tail artery, enabling continuous blood pressure measurement as well as blood sampling. The atlantooccipital membrane is incised and a catheter for pressure recording is placed in the cisterna magna to enable intracerebral pressure measurement. This catheter can also be used for intrathecal therapeutic interventions. The rat is placed in a stereotaxic frame, a burr hole is drilled anteriorly to the bregma, and a catheter is inserted through the burr hole and placed just anterior to the optic chiasm. Autologous blood (0.3 mL) is withdrawn from the tail catheter and manually injected. This results in a rise of intracerebral pressure and a decrease of cerebral blood flow. The animal is kept sedated for 30 min and given subcutaneous saline and analgesics. The animal is extubated and returned to its cage. The pre-chiasmatic model has a high reproducibility rate and limited variation between animals due to the pre-determined blood volume. It mimics SAH in humans making it a relevant model for SAH research.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage continues to carry a high burden of mortality and morbidity in man. To facilitate further research into the condition and its pathophysiology, a pre-chiasmatic, single injection model is presented.

Despite advances in treatment over the last decades, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) continues to carry a high burden of morbidity and mortality, largely ...

Intracranial Pressure Monitoring In Nontraumatic Intraventricular Hemorrhage Rodent Model

Survivors of intraventricular hemorrhage are often left with significant long-term memory impairment; thus, research utilizing intraventricular hemorrhage animal models is essential. In this study, we sought out ways to measure intracranial pressure, mean arterial pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressure during nontraumatic intraventricular hemorrhage in rats. The experimental design included three Sprague Dawley groups: sham, standard 200 &#181;l intraventricular hemorrhage, and vehicle control groups. By introducing an intraparenchymal fiberoptic pressure sensor, precise intracranial pressure measurements were obtained in all groups. Cerebral perfusion pressures were calculated with the knowledge of intracranial pressure and mean arterial pressure values. As expected, the intraventricular hemorrhage and vehicle control groups both experienced a rise in the intracranial pressure and subsequent decline in cerebral perfusion pressure during intraventricular injection of autologous blood and artificial cerebrospinal fluid, respectively. The addition of an intraparenchymal fiberoptic pressure sensor is beneficial in monitoring precise intracranial pressure changes.

Monitoring intracranial pressure in rodent&#160;models of nontraumatic intraventricular hemorrhage is not common in the current literature. Herein, we demonstrate a technique for measuring intracranial pressure, mean arterial pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressure during intraventricular hemorrhage in a rat&#160;animal model.

Survivors of intraventricular hemorrhage are often left with significant long-term memory impairment; thus, research utilizing intraventricular hemorrhage ...