Reproducibility and reliability of middle cerebral artery occlusion using a silicone-coated suture (Koizumi) in rats

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences 1997-12, Vol.153 (1), p.8-11
• Main Authors: Takano, Kentaro, Tatlisumak, Turgut, Bergmann, Andreas G, Gibson III, Daniel G, Fisher, Marc
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Ischemia - physiopathology; Cerebral Arteries - physiology; Disease Models, Animal; Experimental stroke; Focal ischemia; Male; Medical sciences; Middle cerebral artery; Neurology; Rat; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Silicones; Suture; Sutures; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-510X(97)00184-6

The best technical approach to rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) using a nylon-monofilament suture remains unsettled, regarding the usefulness of coated or uncoated sutures. Three investigators with different degrees of experience: A, well skilled; B, 2 years of experience; C, a novice with 6 months of experience, each subjected 10 Sprague–Dawley rats to permanent MCAO using low-viscosity silicone-coated sutures with a mean diameter 0.468±0.013 mm (mean±S.D.) at the tip and 0.361±0.013 mm in the body. Post-mortem corrected infarct size 24 h after MCAO was similar among the three investigators: A, 204.7±33.2 mm 3; B, 212.6±42.8, and C, 195.9±44.4. The coefficient of variation was 16.2% to 22.7%, and 19.4% for the three investigators. This study suggests that experimental stroke with silicone-coated sutures (Koizumi's method) provides good reproducibility and reliability, among investigators of varying experience.