Local Cerebral Blood Flow in a Rat Cortical Vein Occlusion Model

• Published in: Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 720 - 728
• Main Authors: Nakase, H., Heimann, A., Kempski, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.07.1996; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Volume; Cerebral Cortex - blood supply; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Fluorescein Angiography; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis - diagnosis; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis - pathology; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis - physiopathology; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; Male; Medical sciences; Neurology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Microcirculation; Laser Doppler flowmetry; Fluorescence angiography; Cerebral blood flow; Rose bengal photothrombosis; Vein occlusion; Sonography; Doppler ultrasound study; Regional blood flow; Intracranial; Animal model; Nervous system diseases; Rat; Rodentia; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Cerebral disorder; Venous disease; Vascular disease; Vertebrata; Experimental disease; Mammalia; Animal; Central nervous system disease; Laser; Hemodynamics; Obliteration; Vein; Cerebrovascular disease
• ISSN: 0271-678X; 1559-7016
• DOI: 10.1097/00004647-199607000-00024

The symptoms following sinus and vein occlusion observed in patients and experimental animals display a considerable variability that so far remains largely unexplained. In a rat cortical vein occlusion model using a photochemical thrombotic technique, we examined changes in the cerebral venous flow pattern by fluorescence angiography and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebral blood volume fraction (CBVF) by a modern laser Doppler “scanning” technique. Brain damage was assessed histologically. Fluorescence angiographic findings fell into two groups: group A, rats with an altered venous flow pattern after occlusion (n = 12), and group B, rats with interruption of blood flow and/or a growing venous thrombus (n = 5). In addition, sham-operated animals made up group C (n = 5). Extravasation of fluorescein, a massive decrease in rCBF, a short-lasting increase in CBVF, and regional brain damage were typical for group B. In addition, cortical CBF mapping revealed a transient hyperperfusion zone with hyperemia surrounding a hypoperfused ischemic core in group B. A circulation perturbation following venous occlusion appeared near those occluded cerebral veins without sufficient collateral flow. Furthermore, the venous thrombus continued to grow, accompanied by local critical ischemia and severe brain damage. Conversely, 71% of the animals (12 of 17) tolerated occlusion of a solitary vein without major flow disturbances or histological evidence of damage to the CNS (group A).