A Simple Method for Predicting Hippocampal Neurodegeneration in a Mouse Model of Transient Global Forebrain Ischemia

• Published in: The Korean journal of physiology & pharmacology Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 167 - 172
• Main Authors: Cho, Kyung-Ok, Kim, Seul-Ki, Cho, Young-Jin, Sung, Ki-Wug, Kim, Seong Yun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한생리학회-대한약리학회 01.01.2006; The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Editorial Office; 대한약리학회
• Subjects: 약리학; Laser Doppler flowmetry; Posterior communicating artery; Mouse; Global forebrain ischemia; Hippocampus; C57BL/6
• ISSN: 1226-4512; 2093-3827

In the present study, we developed a simple method to predict the neuronal cell death in the mouse hippocampus and striatum following transient global forebrain ischemia by evaluating both cerebral blood flow and the plasticity of the posterior communicating artery (PcomA). Male C57BL/6 mice were anesthetized with halothane and subjected to bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery (BCCAO) for 30 min. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. The plasticity of PcomA was visualized by intravascular perfusion of India ink solution. When animals had the residual cortical microperfusion less than 15% as well as the smaller PcomA whose diameter was less than one third compared with that of basilar artery, neuronal damage in the hippocampal subfields including CA1, CA2, and CA4, and in the striatum was consistently observed. Especially, when mice met these two criteria, marked neuronal damage was observed in CA2 subfield of the hippocampus. In contrast, after transient BCCAO, neuronal damage was consistently produced in the striatum, dependent more on the degree of rCBF reduction than on the plasticity of PcomA. The present study provided simple and highly reproducible criteria to induce the neuronal cell death in the vulnerable mice brain areas including the hippocampus and striatum after transient global forebrain ischemia.