In view of the numerous failures of clinical trials aimed at improving stroke therapy, the role and potential benefit of experimentally modeling focal cerebral ischemia in rodents has been debated. When methods of systematic review and metaanalyis are applied, however, it turns out that experimental models actually faithfully predicted the negative outcomes of clinical trials. In addition, thrombolysis and neuroprotection by hypothermia, first described in animal models, are key examples of treatment modalities that have made it successfully into clinical practice. In Rodent Models of Stroke, an international consortium of authors aims at critically addressing the issues on a very practical level, from choosing the model and outcome measures, designing the experiment, conducting and analyzing it, to reporting it in a scientific publication. The structure and content of the book reflect both the authors’ longstanding expertise in experimental and clinical stroke research and their roles in training the scientific community in the tools of the trade. As a volume in the successful Neuromethods series, the chapters provide authoritative reviews of the most commonly used, well-honed approaches in the field today. Stimulating and easy-to-use, Rodent Models of Stroke will help its readers understand the limitations and the opportunities of modeling stroke in rodents and enable them to conduct experiments which will not only improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of this devastating disorder but also serve as the basis for developing new highly effective treatments.

This book summarizes various tools and techniques used to provide insights into the cellular and molecular pathophysiology of stroke. It also presents rodent animal models to help shed light on the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. Presenting the latest information on the different types of stroke, including embolic, filament, photothrombotic, and bilateral common carotid artery, the book also describes techniques that are used for confirmation of stroke surgery, such as laser speckle imaging (LSI) and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), and discusses the non-human primates that are used in stroke surgery, cerebral venous sinuous thrombosis, and neurobehavioral assessment. Lastly, it analyzes various neuroprotective agents to treat and prevent ischemic stroke, and examines the challenges and advances in treating and preventing acute ischemic stroke.

During the last few years, exciting new insights into mechanisms and treatment of stroke have been obtained from animal experiments. Hence, the use of animal models to induce stroke are of paramount importance as research tools. While a few articles on this topic have been published in select journals, until now there has not been a systematic technical book available which assists researchers in building upon commonly known knowledge. The Manual of Stroke Models in Rats explains in great detail the methods and techniques for accomplishing different stroke models in rats, as well as some techniques using mice. Expert contributors to this text include the most recent research information available, as well as generally recognized facts, making this volume an imperative tool for those researchers seeking to identify new areas of exploration. The first text in 20 years to detail new techniques in rat stroke models The book begins with a statistical update of stroke in America, and proceeds to discuss the rationale for using ischemic stroke models. Major sections include different surgical models of stroke induced by the occlusion of the distal middle cerebral artery, by intraluminal filament or embolic implantation, by photochemically induced thrombosis, global cerebral ischemia induced by asphyxia cardiac arrest or by four-vessel occlusion, and brain hemorrhage. The book also includes anesthesia procedures, general principles of microsurgery, and a study of microsurgical instruments. Numerous tables, figures, and color images are used to supplement the material. The editor, Dr. Yanlin Wang-Fischer, has published more than 40 scientific articles in various medical journals and contributed to several projects related to animal models and surgeries. In this volume, she brings together contributors who represent the cutting edge of research in the field. By reviewing the methods in this detailed technical treatise, researchers will be armed with the latest strategies in preparing their own experimental stroke models.

Despite numerous recent studies and exciting discoveries in the field, only limited treatment is available today for the victims of acute neurological injuries. Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries provides a standardized methodology manual designed to eliminate the inconsistent preparations and variability that currently jeopardizes advances in the field. Contributed by top experts and many original developers of the models, each chapter contains a step-by-step, proven procedure and visual aids covering the most commonly used animal models of neurological injury in order to highlight the practical applications of animal models rather than the theoretical issues. This intensive volume presents its readily reproducible protocols with great clarity and consistency to best aid neuroscientists and neurobiologists in laboratory testing and experimentation. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries is an ideal guide for scientists and researchers who wish to pursue this vital course of study with the proficiency and precision that the field requires.

This book mainly discusses the current status of stroke transnational research and allows the reader to understand the interplay of common comorbidities in the stroke population such as diabetes and hypertension, and provides insight into stroke targets to promote cell survival, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and most importantly, functional recovery after stroke. Throughout the world, stroke is still a leading cause of mortality and morbidity; each year approximately 15 million people worldwide suffer from stroke. Stroke is now the leading cause of death and disability in China. Large communities of stroke survivors are eagerly awaiting scientific advances in transnational stroke research that would offer neuroprotective therapeutics for acute stroke management, or rehabilitation and regenerative strategies utilizing novel stem cell-based approaches. While research is ongoing, the Editors have compiled this volume to help the further understanding of the pathophysiology of stroke and to review and identify future potential biomarkers. The book is written for students, researchers and physicians in neurosciences, neurology and neuroradiology.

Nervous system diseases and disorders are highly prevalent and substantially contribute to the overall disease burden. Despite significant information provided by the use of animal models in the understanding of the biology of nervous system disorders and the development of therapeutics; limitations have also been identified. Treatment options that are high in efficacy and low in side effects are still lacking for many diseases and, in some cases are nonexistent. A particular problem in drug development is the high rate of attrition in Phase II and III clinical trials. Why do many therapeutics show promise in preclinical animal models but then fail to elicit predicted effects when tested in humans? On March 28 and 29, 2012, the Institute of Medicine Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders convened the workshop "Improving Translation of Animal Models for Nervous System Disorders" to discuss potential opportunities for maximizing the translation of new therapies from animal models to clinical practice. The primary focus of the workshop was to examine mechanisms for increasing the efficiency of translational neuroscience research through discussions about how and when to use animal models most effectively and then best approaches for the interpretation of the data collected. Specifically, the workshop objectives were to: discuss key issues that contribute to poor translation of animal models in nervous system disorders, examine case studies that highlight successes and failures in the development and application of animal models, consider strategies to increase the scientific rigor of preclinical efficacy testing, explore the benefits and challenges to developing standardized animal and behavioral models. Improving the Utility and Translation of Animal Models for Nervous System Disorders: Workshop Summary also identifies methods to facilitate development of corresponding animal and clinical endpoints, indentifies methods that would maximize bidirectional translation between basic and clinical research and determines the next steps that will be critical for improvement of the development and testing of animal models of disorders of the nervous system.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a significant source of death and permanent disability, contributing to nearly one-third of all injury related deaths in the United States and exacting a profound personal and economic toll. Despite the increased resources that have recently been brought to bear to improve our understanding of TBI, the developme