The Development of a Behavioral Model for Ischemia in Rats
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Authors
Longjohn, Matt
Issue Date
1993
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Stroke, or focal cerebral ischemia, is of great clinical
importance. When oxygenated, nutrient rich, blood supply to the
brain is reduced and not resumed within the revival time of the brain
cells, energy metabolism and all endergonic processes break down,
leading to cell death (Hossman, 1989). In experimental models of
stroke, (e.g. carotid occlusion in rats) neuroprotection can be
obtained using pharmacological agents such as excitatory amino acid
antagonists (Sauer et aI., 1989), calcium channel blockers (Hossman,
1989), and by Phencyclidine (Ikin et aI., 1990). The present
experiments are pilot studies that detailed the behavioral effects of
cerebral ischemia in experimentally naive Long Evans rats.
Forebrain ischemia was produced by bilateral occlusion of the
common carotid arteries in combination with systemic hypoxia
(Pulsinelli and Brierley, 1978). Behavioral baselines measuring
motor control, sensitivity to stimuli, learning, and memory were
established to assess the effects of the ischemic insult on the rats.
The behavioral assays examining motor control and sensory
stimulation proved to be insensitive measures to the effects of
ischemia, and besides tracking the weight of the animals they will
not be included in future studies. Utilizing three different schedules
of reinforcement (e.g. Fixed-Ratio 20 key press, Fixed-Ratio 20 lever
press, and DRL 15"), operant conditioning provided a measure of
learning and memory. The schedules of reinforcement (Ferster and
Skinner, 1957) also provided a means for the study of the effects of
a neuroprotector (e.g. Phencyclidine) on the behavior of the animals.
Of the three schedules, the FR (20) key press proved to be
impractical as a behavioral model for ischemia. The other two
schedules have not been examined to the same extent, but these pilot
studies indicate them to be more sensitive, and hence more
effective as models, in measuring the ischemic insult on the rats.
Under these two schedules of reinforcement, phencyclidine (PCP),
was shown to assist in the recovery of behavioral function.
Description
vii, 48 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.