Comparative study of various models of experimental hydrocephalus.

The authors present morphological findings in the brains of rabbits, dogs, cats, rats, and mice that have been used as experimental hydrocephalic models. The methods used were as follows: (1) silicone oil injection into the cisterna magna and the neighboring basal cisterns in rabbits by the method of Wisniewski; (2) kaolin administration into the cisterna magna in rabbits and dogs (Dixon); (3) ballooning method with Foley's catheter into the 4th ventricle in rabbits (Milho-rat); (4) plug formation with small pieces of laminalia into the cisterna magna in rabbits by our method; (5) Hy-3 hereditary hydrocephalic mouse bred by Gruenberg; (6) ligation of the placental vessels of the pregnant rat at 13 days of gestation by our method, and (7) transplacental intraperitoneal administration of ethylnitrosourea in a pregnant rat at 9.5 days of gestation. The models with silicone oil, kaolin, laminalia, and ballooning methods produced obstructive hydrocephalus with various grades of ventricular dilatation. The models with the ethylnitrosourea-induced method, ligation of placental vessels, and Hy-3 mouse produced prenatal hydrocephalus. Dilatation of the ventricular system and histological abnormalities do not occur as a uniform process.