Chapter 17 - Animal models and experimental treatments of intracerebral hemorrhage

Summary

Considerable interest has developed over the past decade in experimental studies of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in animal models. This chapter describes the classical blood infusion ICH models and reviews the collagenase model. It first details the findings from individual species. The chapter then discusses the brain neuropathological responses to ICH in these models, and compares them to observations in human ICH. It addresses the limitations of animal models, and discusses their ability to fully capture the complexities of ICH development in humans. Intraparenchymal infusion (or injection) of autologous arterial blood has been the traditional technique to generate an intracerebral hematoma. The collagenase ICH model, which has been commonly used in the rat and more recently in the mouse, has shed light on various pathochemical events following ICH. Large animal models also permit studies of surgical treatments that could be combined with pharmacological approaches.