Post-ischemia common carotid artery occlusion worsens memory loss, but not sensorimotor deficits, in long-term survived stroke mice

• Published in: Brain research bulletin Vol. 183; pp. 153 - 161
• Main Authors: Yang, Zhong, Li, Xuan, Cao, Zhipeng, Wang, Peng, Warner, David S., Sheng, Huaxin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2022
• Subjects: Amnesia; Animals; Brain Ischemia; Carotid Artery, Common; Disease Models, Animal; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Ischemia; Long-term outcome; Mice; Stroke; Unilateral common carotid artery occlusion; CCA; MCAO; ECA; TTC; Stroke; tPA; CBF; Unilateral common carotid artery occlusion; MCA; IQR; GFAP; CCAO; SD; TUNEL; xbp1; Long-term outcome; ANOVA; H & E; AFIM; HBP; iba1; Mice
• ISSN: 0361-9230; 1873-2747
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.03.008

Ischemic stroke in rodents is usually induced by intraluminal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) via the external carotid artery (ECA) or the common carotid artery (CCA). The latter route requires permanent CCA occlusion after ischemia, and here, we assess its effects on long-term outcomes. Transient occlusion of MCA and CCA was performed at normal body temperature. After 90 min of ischemia, mice were randomized to permanent CCA occlusion or no occlusion (control group). Body weight, and motor and sensory functions, ie, pole test, adhesive tape removal, and elevated plus maze, were evaluated at 24 h, and at 7 and 28 days after stroke. Infarct volume, apoptosis, and activation of astrocytes and microglia were assessed at 4 weeks by an investigator blinded to groups. The Morris water maze test was performed at 3 weeks in the second experiment. One mouse died at 4 days, and the other mice survived with persistent neurologic deficits. CCA-occluded mice exhibited delayed turn on the pole at 24 h and decreased responses to the von Frey filament, and spent more time on the pole at 7 and 28 days than the control group. Infarction, hemispheric atrophy, glial activation, and apoptotic neuronal death were present in all mice, and no intra-group difference was found. However, CCA-occluded mice had a significantly poorer performance in the Morris water maze compared to the control group, which showed an adverse effect of post-ischemia CCA occlusion on cognition. Thus, the model selection should be well considered in preclinical efficacy studies on stroke-induced vascular dementia and stroke with Alzheimer’s disease. •CCA occlusion worsens stroke-induced long-term cognitive deficits.•CCA occlusion does not worsen long-term sensorimotor deficits and infarct size.•CCA occlusion does not worsen post-stroke inflammation and apoptosis at 4 weeks.•Transcranial MCA occlusion was used to avoid destroying the carotid artery branches.•MCAO model with CCA filament insertion is not feasible in cognitive function study.