Transient focal cerebral ischemia induces sensorimotor deficits in mice

Rodents have been extensively used for experimental stroke research with ra t and gerbil the preferred species. With the advent of transgenesis and gen e targeting the number of mutant mouse strains is rapidly increasing. Thus, mouse models of stroke will be of great importance in the analysis of gene tic factors affecting stroke. Demonstrating long-term functional recovery i s of paramount importance for the pharmacological evaluation of putative st roke therapies. In the present paper we induce mild focal cerebral ischemia by tandem occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA), via craniot omy, together with the common carotid artery for 45 min in C57BL/6 strain o f mice. The effects of ischemia were evaluated acutely by MRI and long-term (> 3 weeks) sensorimotor functional deficits were analyzed using a number of behavioral paradigms including the rotorod, wire hang, horizontal surfac e approach, eye-closure reflex, and T-maze tests. Although the induced brai n damage is mild we show that it leads to clearly detectable and significan t sensorimotor defects associated with fine motor coordination, balance, an d postural and sensory reflexes. We conclude that the applied behavioral te sts will be useful in the analysis of stroke in mutant mice. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.