Middle cerebral artery occlusion methods in rat versus mouse model of transient focal cerebral ischemic stroke

Experimental stroke research commonly employs focal cerebral ischemic rat models （Bederson et al., 1986a; Longa et al., 1989）. In human patients, ischemic stroke typically results from thrombotic or embolic occlusion of a major cerebral artery, usually the mid- dle cerebral artery （MCA）. Experimental focal cerebral ischemia models have been employed to mimic human stroke （Durukan and Tatlisumak, 2007）. Rodent models of focal cerebral ischemia that do not require craniotomy have been developed using intraluminal suture occlusion of the MCA （MCA occlusion, MCAO） （Rosamond et al., 2008）. Furthermore, mouse MCAO models have been wide- ly used and extended to genetic studies of cell death or recovery mechanisms （Liu and McCullough, 2011）. Genetically engineered mouse stroke models are particularly useful for evaluation of isch- emic pathophysiology and the design of new prophylactic, neuro- protective, and therapeutic agents and interventions （Armstead et al., 2010）. During the past two decades, MCAO surgical techniques have been developed that do not reveal surgical techniques for mouse MCAO model engineering. Therefore, we compared MCAO surgical methods in rats and mice.

Cluster Analysis for Acupoint Specificity of Acupuncture Effect Based on Cerebral Infarction Rat Model

Objectives： To study the acupoint specificity through the comprehensive evaluation of the acupuncture effect on rat model with the middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO）. Methods： Duplicated MCAO model by Zea-longa＇s thread ligation was assessed by Zausinger＇s six-point method, and rats with 1-3 scores were chosen to be grouped. According to the randomized and controlled principle, rats were divided into 6 basic control groups （including normal group, sham group, model control group, model group without intervention, Nimodipine group, lateral-to-Renzhong group） and 6 acupuncture groups [including Neiguan （PC6） group, Weizhong （BL40） group, Chize （LU5） group, Sanyinjiao （SP6） group, Renzhong （DU6） group and non-acupoint group]; in each acupoint or non-acupoint 9 different parameter combinations were respectively set by orthogonal intersection method. There were in total 60 groups, and each group had 12 rats. The rats were treated by acupuncture with the lifting-thrusting manipulation every 12 h, in total 6 times. Indices of neurobehavioral scores, cerebral blood flow, infarction rate, microcirculation, and light microscope, etc. were measured. In order to comprehensively evaluate the acupuncture effect to research the specificity of acupoint, a cluster analysis was made with SPSS17.0 for the comprehensive effect scores of the samples computed according to the comprehensive evaluation models, and then sorting and classification were made for the comprehensive effect scores. Results： In the acupuncture groups every acupoint had different therapeutic effect due to different acupuncture parameter combinations; among the acupuncture groups the orders of curative effect were as followings： Neiguan group was of exceptional result, Weizhong group and Sanyinjiao group were of valid results in upper level, Chize group and Renzhong group were of valid results in lower level, and non-acupoint group was of invalid result; the therapeutic result of acupoint group was superior to non-acupoint group; and the curative effect of acupuncture group was also superior to basic control group. Conclusion： The acupoint has the specificity of acupuncture effect, and the acupoint specificity is relative.