This second edition provides updated and expanded chapters that critically address the issues or rodent stroke modeling, from choosing the model and outcome measures, designing the experiment, conducting and analyzing it, to reporting it in a scientific publication. Rodent Models of Stroke, Second Edition aims to help its readers understand the limitations and the opportunities of modeling stroke in rodents and enable them to conduct experiments which will not only improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of this devastating disorder but also serve as the basis for developing new highly effective treatments. Written for the popular Neuromethods series, chapters include the kind of detail and key implementation advice that ensures successful results in the laboratory. Authoritative and practical, Rodent Models of Stroke, Second Edition provides authoritative reviews of the most commonly used, well-honed approaches in the field today.

This volume covers the latest developments in optical imaging of the brain which is becoming an increasingly important functional neuroimaging method. Optical intrinsic signals offer unrivaled temporal and spatial resolution of functional measurements of the exposed brain cortex in animals and humans. Near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging ap proaches permit the noninvasive functional assessment of the human brain at bedside. Main advantages of these optical techniques are the biochemical specificity of the meas urements and the potential of measuring correlates of intracellular and intravascular oxy genation simultaneously. Recent data indicate that one may also measure a more direct correlate of neuronal activity associated with changes in light scattering. In this volume, recent technical progress of the optical method is covered as well as the physiological basis of the measurements. In simultaneous studies, near-infrared spec troscopy measurements are directly compared to other functional methods, especially PET and fMRI and examples are given for new applications of the NIRS-method. Based on re sults obtained with optical methods and other functional techniques the latest in our under standing of the coupling of neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow response is reviewed. This is an important basis for a better understanding of all functional neuroi maging methods which rely on neurovascular coupling such as PET, SPET and fMRI. Fi nally the optical method is put into the perspective of presently available functional neuroimaging methods including fMRI, PET, MEG and EEG.

* . . . . At last the doctor will be freed from the tedious interpretation of screens and photographs. Instead, he will examine and scan through his patient directly. Wearing optical-shutter spectacles and aiming a pulsed laser torch, he will be able to peer at the beating heart, study the movement of a joint or the flexing of a muscle, press on suspect areas to see how the organs beneath respond, check that pills have been correctly swallowed or that an implant is savely in place, and so on. A patient wearing white cotton or nylon clothes that scatter but hardly absorb light, may not even have to undress . . . . *. David Jones, Nature (1990) 348:290 Optical imaging of the brain is a rapidly growing field of heterogenous techniques that has attracted considerable interest recently due to a number of theoretical advantages in comparison with other brain imaging modalities: it uses non ionizing radiation, offers high spatial and temporal resolution, and supplies new types of metabolic and functional information. From a practical standpoint it is important that bedside examinations seem feasible and that the implementations will be considerably less expensive compared with competing techniques. In October 1991, a symposium was held at the Eibsee near Garmisch, Germany to bring together the leading scientists in this new field.

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in industrialized countries. To date, the medical need of efficient therapy for this de- vastating cerebrovascular disorder remains unmet. During the last decades, the development of pharmacological stroke therapies was aimed at improving patient outcome by restoration of cerebral blood flow or protection from acute neuronal cell death. Almost all of The participants of the workshop VI Preface these appraaches targeted the very early events after vascular occIu- sion. However, primarily for logistical reasons, only a small portion of strakes can be treated within 6-10 h after the insult. In recent years it has been recognized that strake pathophysiology is a dynamic pracess, and that delayed pracesses, which occur dur- ing the days and weeks following arterial occIusion, may lead to further deterioration or to impairment of recovery and rehabilitation in subacute and chranic stages. Evidence is accumulating that neu- rainflammation is a major player in these delayed pathophysiologi- cal pracesses. While some components of neurainflammation such as removal of cell debris and release of traphic factors may support recovery pracesses, others such as the generation of free radicals and other cytotoxic mediators are deleterious for brain tissue after isch- emia. Thus, neurainflammation after strake can be considered a dou- ble-edged sword, having potentially both detrimental and beneficial effects. As in other inflammatory reactions in the body, the cellular and humoral interactions are highly complex in the setting of neu- rainflammation.

This volume covers the latest developments in optical imaging of the brain which is becoming an increasingly important functional neuroimaging method. Optical intrinsic signals offer unrivaled temporal and spatial resolution of functional measurements of the exposed brain cortex in animals and humans. Near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging ap proaches permit the noninvasive functional assessment of the human brain at bedside. Main advantages of these optical techniques are the biochemical specificity of the meas urements and the potential of measuring correlates of intracellular and intravascular oxy genation simultaneously. Recent data indicate that one may also measure a more direct correlate of neuronal activity associated with changes in light scattering. In this volume, recent technical progress of the optical method is covered as well as the physiological basis of the measurements. In simultaneous studies, near-infrared spec troscopy measurements are directly compared to other functional methods, especially PET and fMRI and examples are given for new applications of the NIRS-method. Based on re sults obtained with optical methods and other functional techniques the latest in our under standing of the coupling of neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow response is reviewed. This is an important basis for a better understanding of all functional neuroi maging methods which rely on neurovascular coupling such as PET, SPET and fMRI. Fi nally the optical method is put into the perspective of presently available functional neuroimaging methods including fMRI, PET, MEG and EEG."

* . . . . At last the doctor will be freed from the tedious interpretation of screens and photographs. Instead, he will examine and scan through his patient directly. Wearing optical-shutter spectacles and aiming a pulsed laser torch, he will be able to peer at the beating heart, study the movement of a joint or the flexing of a muscle, press on suspect areas to see how the organs beneath respond, check that pills have been correctly swallowed or that an implant is savely in place, and so on. A patient wearing white cotton or nylon clothes that scatter but hardly absorb light, may not even have to undress . . . . *. David Jones, Nature (1990) 348:290 Optical imaging of the brain is a rapidly growing field of heterogenous techniques that has attracted considerable interest recently due to a number of theoretical advantages in comparison with other brain imaging modalities: it uses non ionizing radiation, offers high spatial and temporal resolution, and supplies new types of metabolic and functional information. From a practical standpoint it is important that bedside examinations seem feasible and that the implementations will be considerably less expensive compared with competing techniques. In October 1991, a symposium was held at the Eibsee near Garmisch, Germany to bring together the leading scientists in this new field.

This second edition provides updated and expanded chapters that critically address the issues or rodent stroke modeling, from choosing the model and outcome measures, designing the experiment, conducting and analyzing it, to reporting it in a scientific publication. Rodent Models of Stroke, Second Edition aims to help its readers understand the limitations and the opportunities of modeling stroke in rodents and enable them to conduct experiments which will not only improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of this devastating disorder but also serve as the basis for developing new highly effective treatments. Written for the popular Neuromethods series, chapters include the kind of detail and key implementation advice that ensures successful results in the laboratory. Authoritative and practical, Rodent Models of Stroke, Second Edition provides authoritative reviews of the most commonly used, well-honed approaches in the field today.

In view of the numerous failures of clinical trials aimed at improving stroke therapy, the role and potential benefit of experimentally modeling focal cerebral ischemia in rodents has been debated. When methods of systematic review and metaanalyis are applied, however, it turns out that experimental models actually faithfully predicted the negative outcomes of clinical trials. In addition, thrombolysis and neuroprotection by hypothermia, first described in animal models, are key examples of treatment modalities that have made it successfully into clinical practice. In Rodent Models of Stroke, an international consortium of authors aims at critically addressing the issues on a very practical level, from choosing the model and outcome measures, designing the experiment, conducting and analyzing it, to reporting it in a scientific publication. The structure and content of the book reflect both the authors' longstanding expertise in experimental and clinical stroke research and their roles in training the scientific community in the tools of the trade. As a volume in the successful Neuromethods series, the chapters provide authoritative reviews of the most commonly used, well-honed approaches in the field today. Stimulating and easy-to-use, Rodent Models of Stroke will help its readers understand the limitations and the opportunities of modeling stroke in rodents and enable them to conduct experiments which will not only improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of this devastating disorder but also serve as the basis for developing new highly effective treatments.

In view of the numerous failures of clinical trials aimed at improving stroke therapy, the role and potential benefit of experimentally modeling focal cerebral ischemia in rodents has been debated. When methods of systematic review and metaanalyis are applied, however, it turns out that experimental models actually faithfully predicted the negative outcomes of clinical trials. In addition, thrombolysis and neuroprotection by hypothermia, first described in animal models, are key examples of treatment modalities that have made it successfully into clinical practice. In Rodent Models of Stroke, an international consortium of authors aims at critically addressing the issues on a very practical level, from choosing the model and outcome measures, designing the experiment, conducting and analyzing it, to reporting it in a scientific publication. The structure and content of the book reflect both the authors' longstanding expertise in experimental and clinical stroke research and their roles in training the scientific community in the tools of the trade. As a volume in the successful Neuromethods series, the chapters provide authoritative reviews of the most commonly used, well-honed approaches in the field today. Stimulating and easy-to-use, Rodent Models of Stroke will help its readers understand the limitations and the opportunities of modeling stroke in rodents and enable them to conduct experiments which will not only improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of this devastating disorder but also serve as the basis for developing new highly effective treatments.