Handcrafted Silicone Coated Filament for Mice Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Models

Summary

This protocol describes a straightforward method for creating coated filaments for the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in mice using silicone, nylon sutures, and syringe needles. This method allows for the production of filaments with a consistent diameter and various silicone wrapping lengths tailored to experimental needs.

Abstract

As the global population ages, ischemic stroke has risen to become the second leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, placing an immense burden on both society and families. Although treatments such as intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular interventions can substantially improve the outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke, only a small percentage of individuals benefit from these therapies. To advance our understanding of the disease and to discover more effective treatments, researchers are continuously developing and refining animal models. Among these, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model stands out as the most commonly used model in cerebrovascular disease research. The filament used in this model is crucial for its development. This protocol outlines a method for creating filaments with consistent diameters and varying lengths of silicone coating. The MCAO model produced using this method in C57 mice has demonstrated high success and consistency, offering a valuable tool for tailored investigations into ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

Introduction

Stroke is one of the most prevalent causes of mortality and disability worldwide. Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are the primary types of cerebrovascular event, with ischemic strokes accounting for approximately 87% of cases^1,2,3. Currently, there are two treatment modalities for patients with ischemic stroke: pharmacological therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and mechanical thrombectomy. However, the narrow therapeutic window and extensive exclusion criteria limit the application of these treatments, benefiting only a minority of patients. This underscores the need for continued efforts to improve ischemic stroke therapies^4,5. In vitro models are inadequate for replicating the complex pathophysiological responses following a stroke, making animal models an indispensable component of preclinical stroke research. Human focal cerebral ischemia is most frequently caused by thrombotic or embolic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), which makes rodent models designed to simulate MCA occlusion (MCAO) highly relevant⁶.

The filament-induced MCAO model, the most widely adopted in stroke research, facilitates occlusion at the onset of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and subsequent reperfusion, leading to extensive infarctions across subcortical and cortical areas of the brain. The advantage of this model lies in its ability to restore blood flow after inducing focal ischemia, thereby paralleling the pathophysiological processes observed in human stroke⁷. Additionally, the model simulates reperfusion injury, a critical factor in the extent of damage⁸. However, the MCAO model has limitations, including variability in infarct volume, with the standard deviation potentially reaching up to 64% of the mean value in some studies⁹. Despite over three decades of use, efforts to enhance the model's reliability are ongoing, yet significant variations in ischemic lesion volume persist across studies and laboratories^10,11,12.

This article introduces a self-manufactured filament for inducing models evaluating neurological deficit scores and cerebral infarction areas. It examines the correlation between filament lengths coated with silicone and the success and stability of the MCAO model. This production technique yields filaments with commendable consistency, contributing to the development of a relatively stable MCAO model.

Protocol

All animal procedures adhered to the experimental procedures and standards approved by the Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (approval number: 2024 Provincial Medical Ethics Committee No. 64). The mice used in this experiment were male C57BL/6 mice, 8-10 weeks old, weighing 24-26 g. Details of the reagents and equipment used are listed in the Table of Materials.

1. Filament preparation

1. Marking the original filament: Wind the 6-0 nylon suture evenly around a plastic ruler plate. Make marks at 5 mm and 10 mm from the filament head (including the coating mark point and the insertion depth mark point).
2. Cut vertically downwards with a blade to ensure both ends are perfectly circular, resulting in an initial 2 cm long filament (Figure 1).
3. Fabrication of the coating device: Use hemostatic forceps to snap off the needle head of a 26 G syringe, then polish the needle hole into a perfect circle with sandpaper. Draw up 2 mL of K-704 silicone sealant with a 10 mK syringe, and finally, attach the needle head to the syringe.
4. Coating the filament: Insert the initial filament into the prepared needle hole up to the marked 5 mm or 10 mm position. Slowly and steadily push the syringe until the filament is fully coated under a stereomicroscope (Figure 2).
5. Setting the coated filament: Fix the coated filament upright with adhesive tape and wait about 20 min for the silicone to fully set.
6. Sterilization and packaging: Soak the prepared filaments in 75% alcohol, wipe them dry with a cotton swab, and then package them in 5 mL centrifuge tubes.

2. MCAO model

NOTE: Surgical tools were sterilized by autoclaving (121 °C at 15 psi for 60 min). The surgery table and other equipment were sanitized using 75% ethanol. The mice were fasted for 8 h preoperatively but allowed free access to water.

1. Administer 5 mg/kg of meloxicam subcutaneously for analgesia 60 min prior to surgery. Connect a heat blanket to maintain the mouse's body temperature at 37 °C during anesthesia.
2. Induce anesthesia with 4% isoflurane until spontaneous movements and whisker twitching cease, then maintain anesthesia at 1.5% (following institutionally approved protocols). Apply eye ointment to both eyes.
3. Place the mouse in a supine position, secure its head and limbs, shave the hair on its neck and upper chest, and disinfect the skin with 75% ethanol from the inside out.
4. Make a 2.5 cm long skin incision along the midline of the neck, from the lower jaw to the sternum.
5. Bluntly dissect the right neck muscles to expose the carotid sheath. Use ophthalmic forceps to open the sheath and separate the common carotid artery (CCA), external carotid artery (ECA), and internal carotid artery (ICA), being careful to avoid disturbing the vagus nerve.
6. Temporarily ligate the CCA with a slipknot before the bifurcation and clamp the ICA with a microsurgical artery clamp.
7. Cauterize the superior thyroid artery from the ECA using a bipolar coagulation pen.
8. Leave two threads on the ECA for ligation: one on the distal end for permanent ligation and another on the proximal end with a loose knot for future use. Make an approximately 0.5 mm incision between the two ligatures on the ECA using ophthalmic scissors to insert the filament.
9. Insert the 5 mm or 10 mm silicone-coated filament into the CCA through the incision and then secure it by tightening the loose knot.
10. After cutting off the distal end of the ECA and removing the clamp from the ICA, retract the filament to the CCA bifurcation. Then, flip and advance the filament into the deep ICA until one feels resistance. Slightly withdraw the filament and secure it by tightening the knot.
11. Suture the animal's skin with 3-0 suture and disinfect the wound with iodine. Place the mouse in a recovery chamber for 1 h.
12. Anesthetize the mouse again, gently remove the filament, tie off the ECA ligation thread securing the filament, and release the CCA slipknot to restore blood flow and reperfuse the middle cerebral artery.
13. Trim the excess threads, suture the neck skin, and disinfect the area once more.

3. Sham operation

1. For sham operations, insert a 7 mm silicone-coated filament to occlude the right middle cerebral artery and then immediately withdraw it to allow for instant reperfusion.
   NOTE: The subsequent procedure is identical to that performed on animals undergoing cerebral ischemia.

4. Neuroscore

1. Place experimental animals from each group in an open field and conduct behavioral postoperative scoring 4 h after cerebral ischemia reperfusion.
2. For successful modeling, consider scores between 1 and 3. The assessment criteria are based on the Longa scoring method¹⁰, as detailed in Table 1.
3. Assess neurological deficits according to the Modified Neurologic Severity Scores (mNSS)¹³, with evaluations carried out at 24 h and 72 h post-reperfusion (see Table 2).

5. Transcardiac perfusion

1. Anesthetize the mouse with 1.5% pentobarbital sodium (following institutionally approved protocols). Place the mouse back in its cage and wait for 10 min. Then, pinch the mouse's toes to test for the absence of reflexes and ensure deep anesthesia.
2. Position the mouse in a supine position on a foam stand and secure its limbs.
3. Cut off the tip of a 25 G needle to blunt it, preventing puncture of the aortic wall. Connect the needle to a syringe filled with 20 mL of saline.
4. Lift the fur of the thorax and use scissors to cut away the skin to expose the xiphoid process. Grasp the xiphoid process and cut horizontally below it to expose the diaphragm by opening the muscle layer. Carefully cut the diaphragm with scissors, avoiding damage to the heart.
5. Cut along the outer side of the sternum to open the rib cage on both sides, flip the anterior wall of the thorax, and secure it with hemostats.
6. Use a cotton swab to remove the fat at the base of the heart, exposing the root of the aorta.
7. Secure the heart with forceps, insert the needle at the apex of the heart, and advance obliquely upward until the needle is visible through the aortic wall. Clamp the needle in place.
8. Make a small cut in the right atrium to observe blood flow. Steadily perfuse saline with the syringe, watching for blood to exit the right atrium. Once the effluent is clear, stop the perfusion¹⁴.
9. After perfusion, decapitate the mouse to harvest the brain¹⁵ and place it in a -20 °C freezer for further processing.

6. Infarct volume assessment by TTC staining

1. Freeze the procured brain tissues rapidly in a -20 °C freezer for 20 min, then place them on a pre-chilled brain slicing mold and section them into 1 mm thick slices.
2. Immerse the obtained brain sections in 2% TTC solution and incubate at 37 °C for 20 min.
3. Immerse the brain slices in 4% paraformaldehyde overnight and take photographs the following day.
4. Measure the infarcted area for each slice and the total brain area using ImageJ. Calculate the infarct volume ratio using the formula: Infarct Volume % = (Sum of infarcted areas / Sum of total brain areas) × 100%.

Results

In the creation of the MCAO model, the primary tools used for fabricating the filaments and the finished filaments are shown in Figure 3. Following filament production, the MCAO model is established by inserting the filament through the external carotid artery, with the duration of the operation recorded. Successful modeling is defined by a Longa score of 1-3 4 h post-filament withdrawal. Body weight is monitored daily after the operation. Neurological deficits are evaluated using modified n...

Discussion

This study demonstrates a simple and cost-effective method for fabricating filament, confirming its feasibility in creating an MCAO model. The length of the filament's silicone coat can be adjusted according to experimental needs, offering additional flexibility. The preparation of a 5 mm filament embolus achieved a 100% success rate without any occurrences of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in mice. In the group using 10 mm filament emboli, there were instances of SAH, while the rest of the mice showed clear infarctio...

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
10 mL Syringe	Haidike Medical Products Co., Ltd.		Instrument for making filaments
2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride (TTC)	Sigma-Aldrich	G3005	Dye for TTC staining
24-well culture plate	Corning	CLS3527	Vessel for TTC staining
26 G syringe needle	Haidike Medical Products Co., Ltd.		Instrument for making filaments
4% paraformaldehyde	Servicebio	G1101	Tissue fixation
6-0 nylon suture	Haidike Medical Products Co., Ltd.		Materials for making filaments
Anesthesia system for isoflurane	Rwd Life Science Co., Ltd.	R610	Anesthetized animal
Bipolar electrocoagulation generator	Yirun Medical Instrument Co., Ltd.	ZG300	Equipment for surgery
Constant temperature water bath	Spring  Instrument Co., Ltd.	HH-M6	TTC staining
Eye ointment	Guangzhou Pharmaceutical	H44023098	Material for surgery
Heat blanket	ZH Biomedical Instrument Co., Ltd.		Maintain body temperatur
Isoflurane	Rwd Life Science Co., Ltd.	R510-22-10	Anesthetized animal
Meloxicam	Boehringer-Ingelheim	J20160020	Analgesia for animal
Microsurgical artery clamp	Shanghai Jinzhong Surgical Instruments Co., Ltd.	W40130	Instrument for surgery
Microsurgical hemostatic clamp forceps	Shanghai Jinzhong Surgical Instruments Co., Ltd.	M-W-0022	Instrument for surgery
Microsurgical instruments set	Rwd Life Science Co., Ltd.	SP0009-R	Equipment for surgery
Mouse thermometer	Hubei Dasjiaer Biotechnology	FT3400	Intraoperative temperature monitoring
Pentobarbital sodium	Sigma-Aldrich	P3761	Euthanized animal
Shaver	Joyu Electrical Appliances	PHC-920	Equipment for surgery
Silicone Sealant	Kafuter	K-704	Materials for making filaments
Stereomicroscope	Rwd Life Science Co., Ltd.	77001S	Equipment for surgery
Suture thread with needle (3-0)	Shanghai Pudong Jinhuan Medical Products Co., Ltd.	F404SUS302	Equipment for surgery