Preclinical stroke research

Question 1

What causes brain damage in stroke?

Answer 1

• When blood supply is cut off to part of the brain, nerve cells start to die in minutes in the core
• Cells of the adjacent penumbra sustain irreversible damage and die within the next few days
• First goal is to restore blood flow
• No treatments available that enhance survival of nerve cells damaged during ischemia

Question 2

Why are experimental models for stroke needed?

Answer 2

a) To understand the pathophysiology (identifying new targets)
b) To test new tratments

Question 3

How does the craniotomy model work?

Answer 3

• Removing piece of skull, then ligation or clipping of artery
• Advantage: High long-term survival rate, visual confirmation of success
• Disadvantage: High invasiveness and complications, requires surgical skill

Question 4

How does the photothrombosis model work?

Answer 4

It induces photothrombotic occlusion with a photoactive dye that causes endothelial damage

Question 5

How does the Endothelin-I model work?

Answer 5

Injection of a vasoconstrictive agent

Question 6

How does the embolic stroke model work?

Answer 6

Injection of a thromboembolic clot, a coagulative agent, or microspheres

Question 7

What are the elements involved in true recovery from stroke?

Answer 7

a) Reversal of dysfunction in undamaged brain areas
b) Changes in the properties of existing neuronal pathways
c) Neuroanatomical plasticity leading to new connections

There are no pharmacological means to enhance functional recovery from stroke.

Question 8

What should a preclinical stroke recovery study consider?

Answer 8

1) Size and position of the lesion

2) Behavioral outcome measured