Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of
Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland | Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University,
Stanford CA 94305-5487, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Alain Barth, M.D., Department of
Neurosurgery, University of Bern, Inselspital, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. Tel.:
+41 31 632 2486; Fax: +41 31 382 2414; E-mail: alain.barth@meduni-graz.at
Abstract: Purpose: Current models of intracerebral hematoma are difficult to
use for neurotransplantation studies because of high mortality and important
variations of morphology, size and location of blood deposits. We propose a
modification of the autologous blood infusion technique in rats to reduce these
limitations. Methods: The modification consisted in a mechanical
microlesion preceding blood infusion. A canula was stereotactically introduced
into the striatum of adult rats. Subsequently, a parenchyma lesion was created
by a rotating microcatheter coaxially inserted through the canula, followed by
slow infusion of 30 μl autologous blood during 5 minutes. Controls
included canula insertion only and canula + microlesion. Hematoma
volume/morphology were quantified and the animals behaviorally analysed using
standardized tests. Results: Surgical mortality was 0/54 rats. One animal
died during follow-up. Hematoma volume was constant and significantly higher
(15.20 ± 0.60 mm^3) than control lesions (canula: 0.11 ±
0.01 mm^3; canula + trauma: 0.51 ± 0.01 mm^3). Hematoma edges
were sharply delineated and the perihematomal region histologically preserved.
Rats with hematoma showed initially a reduced spontaneous rotational behaviour.
They also showed persisting deficits of forelimb placing ability. Conclusions: The advantages of this model include a systematic control of all
steps of hematoma production, high reproducibility of volume, size, and
location of blood deposits, preservation of perihematomal brain tissue, and
quantifiable neurological deficits.
Keywords: Hemorrhagic stroke, intracerebral, hematoma, rat
