Awake Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke with Neuropsychiatric Complications During a Seven-Day Observation

The translational model of experimental stroke in rats induced by a gas embolism was created to clarify the features of stroke's development and to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of novel remedies and proven drugs. The moderately time and labor-consuming protocol allows for observing the dynamics of rapid neuron death in awake animals, providing a unique opportunity to assess the acute phase of stroke, including delirium, as well as to monitor autonomic disturbances such as changes in blood pressure, body temperature, and respiratory minute volume. Atmospheric air (100 µL) was administered by infusion through a vascular catheter placed retrogradely into the common carotid artery via the external carotid artery, using an infusion pump. Twenty-four hours after embolization, the animals exhibit stereotypical behavioral, motor deficits, and histopathological differences. By the seventh day of the experiment, a significant improvement in neurological status was observed, and the results in behavioral tests approached those of the control values. At the same time, a transition from neutrophilic to macrophage infiltration is observed in the ischemic lesion. The proposed model can be utilized in preclinical studies, as it reproduces the neuropsychiatric complications of the post-stroke period, along with the corresponding physiological, functional, and histopathological changes.