The Measurement of Brainstem Blood Flow in the Experimental Recirculation Model of Brainstem Ischemia in the Rat

This report describes a surgical approach and measurement of brainstem blood flow (BBF) used in experimental ischemic model of the brainstem. The vertebral artery of Wistar rat was exposed and prepared embolic thread was inserted into the vertebral artery. The lesions of the baselar artery occuleded animals were restricted to the brainstem which, in the rat, is normally supplied by the vertebrobasilar artery. Using the hydrogen clearance techniques, blood flow of the brainstem was measured in 21 rats. The mean value of mean blood pressure (MBP) was 96.2±6.2 mmHg before ischemia. It dropped to 62.0±12.4 mmHg after transient hypertension. The preischemic BBF was 35.5±2.4 ml/100g/min. This was followed by a gradual increase to hyperperfusion after recirculation. After 1 hour of recirculation, BBF rose to a level above 78.9±5.9 ml/100g/min. These findings suggest that this model may be useful in the evaluation of pathophysiogical changes in brainstem ischemia.

Brainstem

Ischemia

Recirculation

Hyperperfusion

Vasomotor center