Establishing a Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) Model with Simplified Surgical Tools: A Resource-Efficient Strategy for Stroke Research

This study aimed to develop a cost-effective middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in rats using an intraluminal suture method with a magnifying glass lens, an alternative to a surgical microscope. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent MCAO surgery, and neurological deficits were assessed post-surgery. Neurological scores were significantly higher in MCAO rats (mean score 3.5 ± 0.5) compared to sham-operated controls (mean score 0.5 ± 0.2) (p < 0.001). 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining revealed significant infarction in the ischemic region (mean infarct volume 45.2 ± 5.6%), while no infarct was observed in sham-operated controls (0%). Histopathological analysis confirmed ischemic damage, and immunofluorescence staining showed reduced NeuN (62.4% ± 8.2%) and GFAP (70.3% ± 7.5%) expression in the ischemic cortex compared to sham (p < 0.01). Brain water content was significantly higher in the ischemic hemisphere (82.5% ± 2.1%) compared to the contralateral hemisphere (78.4% ± 1.3%) (p < 0.05). The magnifying glass lens-based technique provided a reliable, cost-effective alternative for MCAO surgery, maintaining high reproducibility. This model can be used for preclinical stroke research, neuroprotective studies, and investigating ischemic pathophysiology, especially in resource-limited settings. Overall, the magnifying glass lens MCAO model proves to be an effective tool for stroke research and translational studies in low-resource environments.