Johana Bastidas1, Karina Szyba1, Maria Ketchel1, Allison Greenyer1, Jose Beltran1, Jodi Gresack1, Afshin Ghavami1
1 PsychoGenics Inc., Paramus, NJ, US
Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide, with
ischemic stroke accounting for approximately 85% of all cases. Despite
significant advances in clinical management, effective therapies that promote
neuroprotection and functional recovery remain limited, highlighting the
need for translationally relevant preclinical models. PsychoGenics has
established a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in Sprague
Dawley rats that reproduces key pathological and functional features of
human ischemic stroke. Transient MCAO followed by reperfusion induces
reproducible infarcts within the cortex and striatum, resulting in focal
neuronal loss, neuroinflammation, and persistent neurological deficits.
Histological assessment of lesion location and extent, combined with
longitudinal behavioral evaluation, provides a comprehensive
characterization of stroke severity and recovery. Using a battery of clinically
relevant outcome measures, including neurological scoring, sensorimotor
assessments, and locomotor testing, this model enables evaluation of both
acute injury and long-term functional impairment. The MCAO platform
therefore provides a robust translational tool for investigating stroke
pathophysiology and evaluating novel neuroprotective, restorative, and
rehabilitation-based therapeutic strategies.