A minimally invasive thrombotic model to study stroke in awake mice

Abstract Experimental stroke models in rodents are essential for mechanistic studies and therapeutic development. However, these models have several limitations negatively impacting their translational relevance. Here we aimed to develop a minimally invasive thrombotic stroke model through magnetic...

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Main Authors: Kimberly Marks, Sung-Ji Ahn, Ninamma Rai, Antoine Anfray, Costantino Iadecola, Josef Anrather
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59617-1
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author Kimberly Marks
Sung-Ji Ahn
Ninamma Rai
Antoine Anfray
Costantino Iadecola
Josef Anrather
author_facet Kimberly Marks
Sung-Ji Ahn
Ninamma Rai
Antoine Anfray
Costantino Iadecola
Josef Anrather
author_sort Kimberly Marks
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Experimental stroke models in rodents are essential for mechanistic studies and therapeutic development. However, these models have several limitations negatively impacting their translational relevance. Here we aimed to develop a minimally invasive thrombotic stroke model through magnetic particle delivery that does not require craniotomy, is amenable to reperfusion therapy, can be combined with in vivo imaging modalities, and can be performed in awake mice. We found that the model results in reproducible cortical infarcts within the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory with cytologic and immune changes similar to that observed with more invasive distal MCA occlusion models. Importantly, the injury produced by the model was ameliorated by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration. We also show that MCA occlusion in awake animals results in bigger ischemic lesions independent of day/night cycle. Magnetic particle delivery had no overt effects on physiologic parameters and systemic immune biomarkers. In conclusion, we developed a novel stroke model in mice that fulfills many requirements for modeling human stroke.
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spelling doaj-art-a7b620d26b504352bc85dfb4053b3be52025-08-20T03:08:43ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111610.1038/s41467-025-59617-1A minimally invasive thrombotic model to study stroke in awake miceKimberly Marks0Sung-Ji Ahn1Ninamma Rai2Antoine Anfray3Costantino Iadecola4Josef Anrather5Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell MedicineFeil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell MedicineFeil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell MedicineFeil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell MedicineFeil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell MedicineFeil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell MedicineAbstract Experimental stroke models in rodents are essential for mechanistic studies and therapeutic development. However, these models have several limitations negatively impacting their translational relevance. Here we aimed to develop a minimally invasive thrombotic stroke model through magnetic particle delivery that does not require craniotomy, is amenable to reperfusion therapy, can be combined with in vivo imaging modalities, and can be performed in awake mice. We found that the model results in reproducible cortical infarcts within the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory with cytologic and immune changes similar to that observed with more invasive distal MCA occlusion models. Importantly, the injury produced by the model was ameliorated by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration. We also show that MCA occlusion in awake animals results in bigger ischemic lesions independent of day/night cycle. Magnetic particle delivery had no overt effects on physiologic parameters and systemic immune biomarkers. In conclusion, we developed a novel stroke model in mice that fulfills many requirements for modeling human stroke.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59617-1
spellingShingle Kimberly Marks
Sung-Ji Ahn
Ninamma Rai
Antoine Anfray
Costantino Iadecola
Josef Anrather
A minimally invasive thrombotic model to study stroke in awake mice
Nature Communications
title A minimally invasive thrombotic model to study stroke in awake mice
title_full A minimally invasive thrombotic model to study stroke in awake mice
title_fullStr A minimally invasive thrombotic model to study stroke in awake mice
title_full_unstemmed A minimally invasive thrombotic model to study stroke in awake mice
title_short A minimally invasive thrombotic model to study stroke in awake mice
title_sort minimally invasive thrombotic model to study stroke in awake mice
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59617-1
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