Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion with Infarct Volume Assessment
Objective: To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of progesterone in a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion model by measuring infarct volume and functional recovery outcomes
Protocol Steps
Surgical procedure - Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion or Sham Operation
Male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 months old) underwent either permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham operations
Note: Specific surgical techniques and anesthesia details not provided in methods text
View evidence from paper
“We tested male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 months old) with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham operations”
Initial progesterone administration - Dose-response study
Intraperitoneal injection of progesterone at 1 hour post-occlusion
Note: Three dose groups tested: 8, 16, or 32 mg/kg
View evidence from paper
“animals received intraperitoneal injections of progesterone (8, 16 or 32 mg/kg) at 1 h post-occlusion”
Subcutaneous progesterone administration - Dose-response study
Subcutaneous injection of progesterone at 6 hours post-occlusion and then once every 24 hours for 7 days
Note: Route changed from intraperitoneal to subcutaneous after initial dose
View evidence from paper
“subcutaneous injections at 6 h and then once every 24 h for 7 days”
Time-window study - Progesterone administration at delayed timepoints
Optimal dose of progesterone administered starting at 3, 6, or 24 hours post-stroke
Note: Optimal dose determined from dose-response study (8 mg/kg)
View evidence from paper
“For the time-window study, the optimal dose of progesterone was given starting at 3, 6 or 24 h post-stroke”
Behavioral testing - Repeated intervals
Evaluation of sensory, motor and cognitive performance at repeated intervals throughout recovery period
Note: Tests included locomotor activity, grip strength, sensory neglect, gait impairment, motor coordination and spatial navigation
View evidence from paper
“Behavioural recovery was evaluated at repeated intervals. Rats were killed at 22 days post-stroke”
Brain extraction and infarct volume assessment
Rats were killed at 22 days post-stroke and brains extracted for evaluation of infarct volume
Note: Specific methods for infarct volume measurement not detailed in provided text
View evidence from paper
“Rats were killed at 22 days post-stroke and brains extracted for evaluation of infarct volume”