Decerebration by global ischemic stroke in rats

In this study we present a fast and simple technique to decerebrate rats. B y injecting polyvinylsiloxane (PVS) into both common carotid arteries we oc cluded the circle of Willis and all cerebral arteries, thereby completely i nterrupting the blood supply to the cerebrum. High viscosity PVS was used s o that it only entered the large arteries, and did not pass into the capill ary beds. This procedure reliably resulted in an anemic decerebration, with out interfering with the blood supply to the brainstem. Long-term survival was achieved by reducing intracranial pressure by the application of steroi ds and/or opening the skull. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.