Mild Experimental Cerebral Ischemia in Rabbits Induced by Iron Particle Injection

Yuping Wang, Kenji Nakashima, Yoshimitsu Shiraishi*, Yasuaki Kawai*, Eisaku Ohama† and Kazuro Takahashi

Division of Neurology and †Division of Neuropathology, Institute of Neurological Sciences and *Second Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683, Japan

In order to develop a mild cerebral ischemia model, iron particle injection method was modified and used in rabbits. A magnet of 2000 G was fixed on each skull of 12 rabbits in the test group. Iron particles of the size 0.2 µm suspended in normal saline were injected into a vein of the rabbits. In control group 1 (8 rabbits), the same amount of iron particles was injected but no magnet was fixed on the skull. In control group 2 (8 rabbits), the magnet was fixed on each skull, however, normal saline without iron particles was injected. The injection of iron particles induced about 20% decrease of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the brain of the test group rabbits. CBF increased in control group 2 and did not significantly change in control group 1 after the injections. Amplitude of somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) increased and the latency delayed in the test group. SEPs showed no changes in either control group. These results suggest that mild cerebral ischemia increases SEP amplitude and prolongs the latency. Iron particle injection method has potential use for inducing mild ischemia in rabbits.

Key words: cerebral blood flow; iron particle injection; ischemia; rabbits; somatosensory evoked potentials

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