Both Protocol #1 and Protocol #2 are OK. However, we can use biochemical and histological work with protocol#1, whereas we can't use biochemical assay with protocol #2. Reason: After fixation with 4% PFA, tissues will be fixed, and western blot and other biochemicals, including qPCR, can't be done in the future.

Therefore, our Augusta site prefers protocol#1 in the light of future biochemical and histology work. If it needs only histology work, protocol #2 will be good.

Hello SPANners,

An item on the draft 9/22/23 Steering Committee meeting agenda includes a discussion on the models we will use in Stage 1. Included in the discussion is a reminder that if we want to use the obese mice, we need to start feeding them the high fat diet by the end of October. Our next scheduled SC is not scheduled until 10/27/23 so I would like to start a conversation now here on the models we want to use in Stage 1. Hopefully then we will be able to finalize/vote on a decision during the 9/22/23 meeting.

Some deficits in our scoring system are not present at the late phase.  To make scoring the stroke animals easy, I proposed modifying it and naming it the SPAN neurological scoring system (28 points).

The details to score the stroke animals

General Status (0-6)

To select the functional tests for our SPAN project, we think about what deficits the stroke animals still have at four weeks. Our goal is to detect whether the deficits are improved by the drugs we are testing or not. So sometimes, that can not be done with a simple test. 

From Augusta Site

Here is the sutures information for mice and rats recommended by the coordinating center. Augusta site followed the recommended sutures according to the weight of the animals (Mice and rats).

For Mice: (Doccol filaments)

1. 6-0 fine MCAO suture L12 Re PK10 [Catalog No.: 602112PK10Re]

Very nice work and close to what we are doing.

1) For circling/holding the tail, we need to allow its front paws to touch the surface so it can walk using the front legs. Then we can judge left and right turns or walk straightly.

2) For the vertical screen climbing, we place the animals on the flat screen with its head toward the center and then turn the screen around 80 degrees so the rat will be at the bottom of the screen and can climb up. 

We all know the temperature is crucial in ischemic stroke and will be controlled during ischemia.  Keep in mind that brain temperature may not be the same as the body temperature in your experiment. The ideal way is to monitor the pericranial temperature. However, rectal temperature control is easy, so we all like to use it.

I want to share my opinions here.

Hello, 

The following are the SOP's for post-op thermal and nutritional support that UCSD will use. 

We are open to comments.

Thank you!

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for mouse MCAO Post-stroke thermal support

In the pilot study we will do, the corner test will be used as the primary outcome. The concern I have is that the corner test AI results presented in our weekly meeting did not show the difference between the early time point and the late time point. Functional deficits were supposed to improve at 28 days. However, the corner test did not catch this change, which makes me worry about whether this test will not catch the treatment efficacy if the drug effect is not strong.

In 3/28 meeting, we were asked for getting quotes of the mouse and rat Y-maze system.  Yami will post the quotes from three different companies for your reference.