Volume 6, Issue 5 pp. 434-444

Is the spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone rat a pertinent model of sub cortical ischemic stroke? A systematic review

Emma L. Bailey

Emma L. Bailey

Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK

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Colin Smith

Colin Smith

Division of Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

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Cathie L. M. Sudlow

Cathie L. M. Sudlow

Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK

Centre for Molecular Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

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Joanna M. Wardlaw

Corresponding Author

Joanna M. Wardlaw

Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK

SINAPSE Collaboration (Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence), University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, UK

Joanna M. Wardlaw*, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU Edinburgh, UK.
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First published: 23 September 2011
Citations: 6

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Funding: E. L. B. is funded by a Medical Research Council PhD studentship. J. M. W. is funded by the Scottish Funding Council through the SINAPSE Collaboration (Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence, http://www.sinapse.ac.uk). C. L. M. S. is funded by the Scottish Funding Council.

Abstract

The spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone rat is best known as an inducible model of large artery stroke. Spontaneous strokes and stroke propensity in the spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone rat are less well characterized; however, could be relevant to human lacunar stroke. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess the brain tissue and small vessel pathology underlying the spontaneous strokes of the spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone rat. We searched systematically three online databases from 1970 to May 2010; excluded duplicates, reviews, and articles describing the consequences of induced middle cerebral artery occlusion or noncerebral pathology; and recorded data describing brain region and the vessels examined, number of animals, age, dietary salt intake, vascular and tissue abnormalities. Among 102 relevant studies, animals sacrificed after developing stroke-like symptoms displayed arteriolar wall thickening, subcortical lesions, enlarged perivascular spaces and cortical infarcts and hemorrhages. Histopathology, proteomics and imaging studies suggested that the changes not due simply to hypertension. There may be susceptibility to endothelial permeability increase that precedes arteriolar wall thickening, degeneration and perivascular tissue changes; systemic inflammation may also precede cerebrovascular changes. There were very few data on venules or tissue changes before hypertension. The spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone rat shows similar features to human lacunar stroke and may be a good spontaneous model of this complex human disorder. Further studies should focus on structural changes at early ages and genetics to identify factors that predispose to vascular and brain damage.

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