A novel model of light-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization in mice

Abstract Ischemic stroke caused by the abrupt interruption of blood flow is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite expanding reperfusion treatment indications, a significant proportion of patients (54.5%) experiences poor outcomes, regardless of successful recanalizatio...

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Main Authors: Emilia Conti, Antea Minetti, Lapo Turrini, Noemi Carlini, Cristina Sarti, Anna Maria Gori, Elena Sticchi, Betti Giusti, Cristina Spalletti, Marzia Baldereschi, Anna Letizia Allegra Mascaro, Francesco Saverio Pavone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08398-w
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author Emilia Conti
Antea Minetti
Lapo Turrini
Noemi Carlini
Cristina Sarti
Anna Maria Gori
Elena Sticchi
Betti Giusti
Cristina Spalletti
Marzia Baldereschi
Anna Letizia Allegra Mascaro
Francesco Saverio Pavone
author_facet Emilia Conti
Antea Minetti
Lapo Turrini
Noemi Carlini
Cristina Sarti
Anna Maria Gori
Elena Sticchi
Betti Giusti
Cristina Spalletti
Marzia Baldereschi
Anna Letizia Allegra Mascaro
Francesco Saverio Pavone
author_sort Emilia Conti
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Ischemic stroke caused by the abrupt interruption of blood flow is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite expanding reperfusion treatment indications, a significant proportion of patients (54.5%) experiences poor outcomes, regardless of successful recanalization, emphasizing the need for clinically relevant preclinical stroke models to better understand the mechanisms associated with effective reperfusion. Here, we develop and characterize a novel mouse model of light-induced recanalization following the photothrombotic occlusion of the distal branch of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The recanalization provides a meaningful reduction of the infarct volume compared to non-recanalized mice. Moreover, the generalized motor impairment is less severe, as measured by the Neuro Deficit score. Ex vivo investigation highlights that light-mediated recanalization mitigates astrocyte complexity in the periinfarct cortex of recanalized mice. Moreover, light-induced recanalization reduces cerebral edema occurrence. Finally, the investigation of circulating biomarkers shows that our model of occlusion and recanalization of the MCA recapitulates the neuroinflammatory cascade of the acute phase of ischemic stroke.
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spelling doaj-art-07cd6e75c1824a909d3aba3cfc838b412025-08-20T04:03:02ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-07-018111410.1038/s42003-025-08398-wA novel model of light-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization in miceEmilia Conti0Antea Minetti1Lapo Turrini2Noemi Carlini3Cristina Sarti4Anna Maria Gori5Elena Sticchi6Betti Giusti7Cristina Spalletti8Marzia Baldereschi9Anna Letizia Allegra Mascaro10Francesco Saverio Pavone11National Institute of Optics, National Research CouncilNeuroscience Institute, National Research CouncilNational Institute of Optics, National Research CouncilNeuroscience Institute, National Research CouncilNeurofarba Department, University of FlorenceDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of FlorenceDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of FlorenceDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of FlorenceNeuroscience Institute, National Research CouncilNeuroscience Institute, National Research CouncilEuropean Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS)National Institute of Optics, National Research CouncilAbstract Ischemic stroke caused by the abrupt interruption of blood flow is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite expanding reperfusion treatment indications, a significant proportion of patients (54.5%) experiences poor outcomes, regardless of successful recanalization, emphasizing the need for clinically relevant preclinical stroke models to better understand the mechanisms associated with effective reperfusion. Here, we develop and characterize a novel mouse model of light-induced recanalization following the photothrombotic occlusion of the distal branch of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The recanalization provides a meaningful reduction of the infarct volume compared to non-recanalized mice. Moreover, the generalized motor impairment is less severe, as measured by the Neuro Deficit score. Ex vivo investigation highlights that light-mediated recanalization mitigates astrocyte complexity in the periinfarct cortex of recanalized mice. Moreover, light-induced recanalization reduces cerebral edema occurrence. Finally, the investigation of circulating biomarkers shows that our model of occlusion and recanalization of the MCA recapitulates the neuroinflammatory cascade of the acute phase of ischemic stroke.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08398-w
spellingShingle Emilia Conti
Antea Minetti
Lapo Turrini
Noemi Carlini
Cristina Sarti
Anna Maria Gori
Elena Sticchi
Betti Giusti
Cristina Spalletti
Marzia Baldereschi
Anna Letizia Allegra Mascaro
Francesco Saverio Pavone
A novel model of light-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization in mice
Communications Biology
title A novel model of light-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization in mice
title_full A novel model of light-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization in mice
title_fullStr A novel model of light-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization in mice
title_full_unstemmed A novel model of light-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization in mice
title_short A novel model of light-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization in mice
title_sort novel model of light induced middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization in mice
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08398-w
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