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Custom Endovascular Filament Model of Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO)
The middle cerebral artery (MCA) and its branches are the cerebral vessels most severely affected by ischemic stroke,
accounting for approximately 70% of infarctions. Thus, occlusion of this artery most closely resembles focal
cerebral ischemia stroke in humans. The most common method of focal ischemic stroke is intraluminal thread occlusion
of the MCA, which has been used in more than 40% of stroke research. The endovascular filament MCAO modeling
involves surgical filament insertion of the external carotid artery threaded into the internal carotid artery (ICA)
until prompted by obstruction of the MCA at the origin, in the cessation of blood flow and subsequent cerebral
infarction. The suture is located at the junction between the anterior cerebral artery and the middle cerebral
artery and is retained in place for a predetermined period or permanently.
Fig. 1. Illustration of
endovascular thrombectomy after acute ischemic stroke. (Sutherland et al., 2016)
Custom Endovascular Filament Model of MCAO
Ace Therapeutics is proud to provide customized intraluminal filament model of MCAO to researchers
in the stroke field. Ace Therapeutics has a wealth of experience and a dedicated team of scientists that allow us to
model permanent or transient MCAO (pMCAO or tMCAO) focal ischemic stroke according to the specific needs of our
clients. All studies can be customized and adapted to meet customer needs.
Available Stroke Animal Models
Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (tMCAO)
The tMCAO model, also referred to as the MCAO ischemia–reperfusion model, is one of the most widely used preclinical
models for ischemic stroke research. By transiently occluding the middle cerebral artery followed by reperfusion,
this model closely mimics the pathological processes of human focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury.
At Ace Therapeutics, we have established tMCAO models in multiple animal species, including mice, rats, and non-human
primates (NHPs). We also provide comprehensive outcome assessment services for preclinical stroke studies, including
neurological deficit scoring, behavioral testing, infarct volume quantification, as well as molecular and
histopathological analyses. These integrated services support robust efficacy evaluation and mechanistic studies,
enabling reliable data generation for stroke drug discovery and preclinical development.
Fig. 2. A tMCAO mouse model. (Zhou et al., 2022)
For a detailed overview of our tMCAO model–based service capabilities and representative study outcomes, please
download the tMCAO Model Case Study.
Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (pMCAO)
The pMCAO model is designed to mimic the persistent arterial occlusion observed in human ischemic stroke without
reperfusion. In this model, a monofilament suture is advanced through the carotid artery to occlude the origin of
the MCA, resulting in sustained cerebral blood flow blockage.
Ace Therapeutics provides pMCAO models in mice, rats, and NHPs to support mechanistic studies of stroke
pathophysiology and the preclinical evaluation of therapeutic candidates.
We offer functional outcome evaluation services using validated behavioral assays, including the limb placing test
and the cylinder test. In addition, we provide lesion volume quantification and blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity
assessment based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), delivering objective and high-quality data for preclinical
stroke studies.
Fig. 3. Assessment of brain injury at 24 hours after pMCAO in SD
rats. (Liu et al., 2024)
For a detailed overview of our pMCAO model–based service capabilities and representative study outcomes, please
download the pMCAO Model Case Study.
Animal Modeling Method
We can construct intraluminal filament model of MCAO in animals. The approximate procedure is as follows:
1) Under the operating microscope, the bifurcation of the right common carotid artery is exposed through a midline
incision in the neck.
2) A 4-0 monofilament nylon suture with its tip rounded near a flame is introduced into the right external carotid
artery and advanced into the internal carotid artery for a length of 17~20 mm from the bifurcation.
3) These methods place the tip of the suture at the origin of the anterior cerebral artery, thereby occluding the
middle cerebral artery. The suture is left in place until death. If removal is followed by suturing at certain time
intervals (30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours), reperfusion (transient ischemia) is achieved; if the filament is left in
place (24 hours) the procedure is suitable as a model of permanent ischemia.
4) Following MCA occlusion, animals are allowed to awaken from anesthesia. Surgical mortality is <10% in this
model.
Animal Model Characterization and Validation
To assess the severity of cerebral infarction, we can stain brain
sections with 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) to determine ischemia in brain tissue. We also
offer cognitive/behavioral
tests to measure spatial memory, contralateral motor function and coordination (stairs, adhesion removal
test, water maze, grip test).
Advantages of Our Custom Endovascular Filament Model of MCAO
- Our customized endovascular filament model of MCAO has been carefully designed to provide high reproducibility
- With a customized endovascular filament model of MCAO, researchers can accurately manipulate occlusion times and
are able to explore the effects of different ischemia durations on brain tissue and functional outcomes
- The presence of significant ischemic semi-dark bands in the customized intraluminal filament MACO model allows
researchers to identify affected areas of the brain and assess the extent of ischemic damage
Applications of Endovascular Filament Model of MCAO
We help our clients conduct a variety of studies in endovascular filament model of MCAO, including
- Developing neuroprotective drug of stroke
- Studying the neuroplastic rearrangements and neuro-regenerative cues after stroke
- Characterizing stroke-related genes and proteins
At Ace Therapeutics, our endovascular filament model of MCAO provides a more comprehensive approach
for your focal cerebral ischemic stroke preclinical research. Need to know more? Contact us and let one of our experts provide you with all the answers you need.
References
- Sutherland, B. A., et al. (2016). The transient intraluminal filament middle cerebral artery occlusion
model as a model of endovascular thrombectomy in stroke. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow &
Metabolism, 36(2), 363-369.
- Zhou, X., et al. (2022). Acute cerebral ischemia increases a set of brain-specific miRNAs in serum
small extracellular vesicles. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 15, 874903.
- Liu, P., et al. (2024). Establishment of a pMCAO model in SD rats and screening for behavioral
indicators suitable for long-term monitoring. Brain Injury, 38(9), 716-726.
All of our services are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
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