Methods for Establishing Models of Nervous System Diseases

Product Manager: Harrison Michael

Nervous system diseases have imposed a significant medical burden globally. Researching their pathogenesis and intervention methods is of great significance for new drug development. Animal models play an irreplaceable role in the basic research of neurological diseases. Depending on the type of disease and the research purpose, models of nervous system diseases can be divided into central nervous system models (stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc.) and peripheral nervous system models (neuropathic pain, nerve injury regeneration, etc.). Modeling methods include physical injury, chemical induction, genetic manipulation, and other forms. This article will detail the establishment methods and key experimental points of common animal models of nervous system diseases.

I. Stroke Models

Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model (MCAO)

Principle: Simulates the blood flow blockage of ischemic stroke, with the most commonly used method being filament occlusion.

Experimental Method:

·Insert a nylon filament into the internal carotid artery to block the middle cerebral artery.

·It is recommended to use SD rats (250–300 g) and perform microsurgery under general anesthesia.

·Remove the filament after 30–120 minutes of occlusion to allow reperfusion, simulating ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Key Reagents:

·Ketamine (C649604) + Xylazine: Anesthetics

·TTC Stain (T109275): For cerebral infarction volume assessment

Notes:

·Operations should be precise to avoid accidental injury to the external carotid artery.

·It is recommended to conduct neurological function scoring and TTC staining assessment 24 hours after surgery.

II. Parkinson's Disease Model (PD)

6-OHDA-Induced Model

Principle: 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) selectively damages dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway of the midbrain.

Experimental Method:

·Inject 6-OHDA into the rat striatum or midbrain substantia nigra via stereotactic injection.

·Pre-treat with Atro. and Dexa.mthsone before injection to reduce postoperative complications.

·Commonly use Wistar or SD rats.

Key Reagents:

·6-OHDA (H135753): Inducer

·Antioxidant Sodium Ascorbate (S105026): To stabilize 6-OHDA

·Atro. (A135946) (not an injectable product)

·Dexa.mthsone Phosphate (D129705) (not an injectable product)

Model Assessment:

·Apomorphine-induced rotational behavior analysis.

·TH immunohistochemistry to detect the extent of dopaminergic neuron damage.

III. Alzheimer's Disease Model (AD)

Aβ Intracerebral Injection Model

Principle: Injecting β-amyloid (Aβ1-42) to aggregate in the brain, forming pathological manifestations similar to human AD.

Experimental Method:

·Dissolve Aβ1-42 and process it for aggregation, then inject it into the rat hippocampus via stereotactic injection.

·Conduct cognitive behavior tests 7–14 days after surgery.

Key Reagents and Instruments:

·Synthetic Aβ1-42 Peptide (A647451, β-Amyloid (1-42), rat/mouse)

·Aβ Aggregation Buffer: PBS + a small amount of NaOH to adjust pH

·Y-maze, Morris water maze behavior testing instruments

Notes:

·Aβ peptide needs to be pre-aggregated for 48 hours.

·Aggregation conditions and temperature control are key to model stability.

IV. Spinal Cord Injury Model (Spinal Cord Injury, SCI)

Free-Fall Impact Method (NYU Impactor)

Principle: A mechanical device allows a metal rod of a specific weight to freely fall and impact the exposed spinal cord, simulating spinal cord contusion.

Experimental Method:

·Expose the spinal cord at the T9–T10 segment and set the drop height (generally 10–25 mm);

·Use antibiotics postoperatively to prevent infection.

Key Reagents:

·Penicillin G Sodium (P274325) + Strep+ (S432672): Postoperative antibiotics;

·Normal saline + high-glucose culture medium for postoperative nutritional support;

Model Assessment:

·BBB scoring scale;

·Tissue HE staining and immunohistochemistry to assess the extent of injury and inflammatory response.

V. Neuropathic Pain Model

Chronic Constriction Injury Model (CCI)

Principle: Loosely ligate the sciatic nerve with a microfilament to induce chronic neuropathic pain.

Experimental Method:

·Ligate the sciatic nerve with four fine filaments, spaced about 1 mm apart.

·It is recommended to use SD rats and perform the operation under general anesthesia, with a recovery period of one week postoperatively.

Key Reagents and Instruments:

·Microsurgical thread;

·Ketamine (C649604) + Xylazine anesthetic combination;

·von Frey filaments for mechanical pain sensitivity testing;

VI. Genetic Models (Transgenic and Knockout Models)

Such as APP/PS1 mice (Alzheimer's disease), α-synuclein transgenic mice (Parkinson's disease), etc., are suitable for the study of chronic progressive neurodegenerative diseases.

Experimental Advantages:

·Simulate human genetic mutations;

·The pathological process is natural and slow, more in line with clinical conditions.

Notes:

·The breeding environment needs to be stable;

·Behavioral tests need systematic assessment;

VII. Common Issues and Optimization Suggestions

Aladdin provides scientific research reagents for the establishment of animal models of the nervous system. All products have undergone strict quality testing and possess quality validation data (such as SDS-PAGE, HPLC), supporting the high quality and reproducibility of scientific research work. Combining high-quality reagents with standardized operating procedures helps enhance the reliability of experiments and the persuasiveness of data. Aladdin will continue to provide researchers with professional products and technical support to assist in advancing the study of nervous system diseases to a higher level.

Aladdin：https://www.aladdinsci.com/