Collateral circulation prevents masticatory muscle impairment in rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model

The rat suture middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) is a frequently used animal model for investigating the mechanisms of ischemic brain injury. During suture MCAO, transection of the external carotid artery (ECA) potentially restrains blood flow and impairs masticatory muscle and other ECA-supported territories, consequently influencing post-operation animal survival. This study investigates the effect of ECA transection on the hemodynamic alterations using a novel synchrotron radiation angiography technique and magnetic resonance imaging.