Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, South Korea.
J Neurosci Methods. 2021 Aug 1;360:109228. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109228. Epub 2021 May 28.
Brain temperature is a strong determinant of ischemic stroke injury. For this reason, tight management of brain or body temperature (Tcore) in experimental rodent stroke models is recommended to improve the rigor and reproducibility of outcomes. However, methods for managing Tcore during and after stroke vary widely in approach and effectiveness.
We developed a low-cost warm ambient air cage (WAAC) system to provide improved temperature control during the intra-ischemic and post-ischemic recovery periods. The system is incorporated into standard holding cages for maintaining Tcore during the intra-ischemic period as well as for several hours into the recovery period.
We compared the WAAC system with a commonly used heat support method, consisting of a cage on a heating pad. Both heat support systems were evaluated for the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) stroke model in mice. The WAAC system provided improved temperature control (more normothermic Tcore and less Tcore variation) during the intra- ischemic period (60 min) and post-ischemic period (3 h). Mean infarct volume was not statistically different by heat support system, however, standard deviation was 54 % lower in the WAAC system group.
Mice and other small rodents are highly vulnerable to heat loss during and after the MCAo procedure. The WAAC system provides more precise and controlled Tcore maintenance compared with frequently used induction heating methods in mice undergoing the MCAo stroke model. The improved temperature control should enhance experimental rigor and reduce the number of experimental animals needed.
脑温是决定缺血性卒中损伤的重要因素。出于这个原因，建议在实验性啮齿动物卒中模型中严格管理脑温或体温（Tcore），以提高结果的严谨性和可重复性。然而，在卒中期间和之后管理 Tcore 的方法在方法和效果上差异很大。
我们开发了一种低成本的温暖环境空气笼（WAAC）系统，以在缺血期和缺血后恢复期间提供更好的温度控制。该系统被整合到标准的饲养笼中，以在缺血期以及恢复期的几个小时内维持 Tcore。
我们将 WAAC 系统与一种常用的加热支持方法（加热垫上的笼子）进行了比较。两种加热支持系统都在小鼠大脑中动脉闭塞（MCAo）卒中模型中进行了评估。WAAC 系统在缺血期（60 分钟）和缺血后恢复期（3 小时）提供了更好的温度控制（更接近正常体温的 Tcore 和更少的 Tcore 变化）。通过热支持系统，平均梗死体积没有统计学差异，但 WAAC 系统组的标准差降低了 54%。
在 MCAo 过程中和之后，小鼠和其他小型啮齿动物极易失热。与在接受 MCAo 卒中模型的小鼠中常用的感应加热方法相比，WAAC 系统提供了更精确和受控的 Tcore 维持。更好的温度控制应提高实验的严谨性并减少所需的实验动物数量。
