Effects of an animal model of vascular cognitive impairment in conjunction with a cafeteria diet
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Methodology 0-3 months Rats were divided into two groups and assigned either a standard rat food (STD) diet or a cafeteria (CAF) diet. The CAF diet consisted of processed foods commonly found in grocery stores, such as cookies, cereal, chips and processed meats. Rats in the CAF diet group were given the choice to eat the 'junk food' or standard chow (Figure 4). Both groups were placed on their respective diets for a 3 month period. ! 2VO After 3 months, the animals were divided into two surgical groups. One group received a SHAM surgery while the other underwent a 2-vessel occlusion (2VO) surgery. Ligation of both carotid arteries was performed according to the 2VO model, causing hypoperfusion in the cerebral cortex. The animals continued to receive their diets throughout the experiment. !Post-surgical period Rats were further subdivided into 3 sacrifice time-point groups. One week, one month and two months after surgery their cerebral blood flow was measured in the pre-clinical MRI facility. The subgroups of animals were sacrificed the day following MRI imaging. After all animals were sacrificed, the brains were removed and placed in a paraformaldehyde solution to be stored. Brains were then frozen using cooled isopentane in order to prepare the tissue for sectioning. Sections of the entire hippocampal region of the brain were collected and placed on slides. These slides were stained with cresyl violet (figure 6) and will undergo a microscopic assessment in weeks to come.
Author: Mariska Silas
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2421202631