Middle cerebral artery occlusion in presence of low perfusion pressure increases infarct size in rats

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Abstract
A model was set up in order to evaluate the importance of hemispheric perfusion pressure when the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is occluded in anaesthetized rats. In 6 animals the internal carotid artery (ICA) was occluded prior to ipsilateral MCA occlusion; in 17 animals the MCA only was occluded; 6 animals underwent the same preparation, but the vessels were left unoccluded. Four days after surgery the infarct volume was measured with a computerized image analyser. The infarcted areas were significantly larger in the ICA + MCA occluded group compared with the MCA occluded group (p > 0.005), which in turn had larger infarcts than the sham-operated animals (p > 0.001). These results indicate that patients with hypoperfusion, due to severe ICA stenosis and impaired collateral blood supply; are at higher risk of developing major stroke, when embolism into a cerebral artery occurs, as compared to patients with no, or only minor, reduction in hemispheric perfusion pressure.

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