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Minim Invasive Neurosurg 2008; 51(2): 87-90
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1022531
Original Article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Locomotor Activity is a Predictive Test after Global Ischemia-Reperfusion in Mongolian Gerbils

R. Ramos-Zúñiga 1 , P. U. Gómez 1 , A. Navarro Ruiz 1 , S. Luquín de A 1 , J. García-Estrada 1
  • 1Laboratory of Basic Neurosciences, Departamento de Neurociencias, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Sección de Neurociencias, CIBO-IMSS, Guadalajara Jalisco, México
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Publication History

Publication Date:
09 April 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Objective: The Mongolian gerbil is one of the main animal species used for the study of global ischemia, due to its specific Circle of Willis. Because of their anatomic variations, a large number of animals is needed. On account of the specific vulnerability of the hippocampus, striatum and neocortex, it is possible to evaluate the severity of the ischemic damage through an analysis of locomotor activity. The tests support the sensitvity of the experimental sample and compensate the interanimal variability.

Methods: The locomotor pattern of 30 male Mongolian gerbils was recorded before they were subjected to experimental bilateral carotid clippage for 15 minutes followed by reperfusion. A transparent 75×50×90 cm acrylic box was filmed in order to determine the total distance covered by the animals in five minutes, for three consecutive days. The locomotor activity of the animals was also examined in an open field at 24 hours and seven days after ischemia. Serum neurospecific enolase (NSE) was measured in the ischemic group and compared with that of an intact control group.

Results: The recording for normal animals was uniformly similar (average 200 squares in periphery), in the first trial of 3 consecutive days (188±6.7 S.D.). After ischemia, the numbers increased to 388 (± 40 S.D.), indicating that they were sensitive to the ischemic episode. Seven days later they returned to basal values. Serum NSE was high in the ischemic group versus the intact control group (S=<0.001).

Conclusions: Locomotor activity in an open field is a useful reference as a predictive test to determine the sensitivity of experimental animals to ischemia. It is also associated to the degree of cerebral damage in global ischemia-reperfusion, and this behavior is representative of the expression of selective ischemic injury. The determination of NSE is useful as an associated parameter of ischemic injury.

Key words

Mongolian gerbil - locomotor hyperactivity - cerebral ischemia - hippocampus

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Correspondence

R. Ramos-ZúñigaMD, PhD 

Department of Neurosciences

CUCS

Universidad de Guadalajara

Victoria # 1531

Providencia

44630 CP

Guadalajara

Jalisco

México

Phone: +52/333/6427 96 3,+52/333/6427 96 4

Fax: +52/333/6427 96 3, +52/333/6427 96 4

Email: rodrigor@cencar.udg.mx