Experimental thromboembolic stroke in cynomolgus monkey

To develop an experimental model of thromboembolic stroke without intracran ial surgery, an autologous blood clot was delivered to the middle cerebral artery (MCA) via the internal carotid artery in cynomolgus monkeys. Male cy nomolgus monkeys, in which a chronic catheter had been earlier implanted in the left interval carotid artery, were used. The clot was Bushed into the internal carotid artery under sevofluorane anesthesia. A neurologic deficit score was assigned after MCA embolization. After 24 h, cerebral infarct si ze and location were determined by the TTC staining method. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured prior to and after MCA embolization, using positron emission tomography (PET). After embolization, long-lasting and profound e xtensor hypotonia of the contralateral upper and lower limbs, and mild to s evere incoordination were observed. Contralateral hemiplegia was observed o ver the following 24 h. In gross morphologic observation of the brain, the lesions involved mostly the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus and i nsular cortex. CBF was maximally reduced in the left MCA territory, but not in the right MCA territory. This model is relevant to thromboembolic strok e in human in neurologic dysfunction and histopathologic brain damage. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.