A modified surgical approach to induce circle Willis perforation in mice using the common carotid artery

The Circle of Willis perforation (cWp) mouse model is widely used in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) research but involves sacrificing the external carotid artery (ECA), which may have a potential affect on the hemodynamic in the carotid arteries and cortical perfusion. We propose a modified approach using needle puncture via the common carotid artery (CCA) to preserve carotid vascular integrity. Twenty-seven C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into three groups and underwent cWp surgery in three procedures: sham (n = 3), ECA (n = 12), and CCA (n = 12). Surgical duration, success rate, intraoperative intracranial pressure (ICP) fluctuations, 24-hour mortality, and neurological deficits were assessed. The CCA approach achieved a 100% success rate and shorter surgical duration than the ECA approach (ECA 73 ± 18 vs. CCA 36 ± 10 min, P < 0.05). ICP fluctuations and mortality rates were comparable between the ECA and CCA groups (P > 0.05), indicating that the CCA approach shared a similar pattern with the ECA approach. Neurological outcomes were similar across SAH groups (CCA SAH induction and ECA SAH induction) but worse than sham (P < 0.05) in terms of body weight loss, open-filed test and Rotarod test performances. This modified cWp CCA approach, which preserves the carotid structures, helps eliminate hemodynamic bias and offers a potentially more efficient alternative with a shorter surgical duration compared to the classical ECA approach. It may prove to be a valuable option for broader application in SAH preclinical research.