National Center for Scientific Research

Published purpose

Dr Blondeau’s laboratory at the CNRS in France will perform the in vivo experiments to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of biologics against cerebral ischemia. Two biologics will be tested, as identified in in vitro screening experiments. The model of cerebral ischemia employed by Dr Blondeau’s laboratory will be transient middle occlusion cerebral artery (tMCAO) with re-perfusion. Temperature will be regulated and blood flow will be monitored by laser-doppler flowmetry. The tMCAO model produces a reproducible lesion volume large enough to allow detection of protective effects = 20%. To test neuroprotection, the biologic will be injected in the carotid artery (using the same artery that was occluded) at the onset of re-perfusion. Outcomes measured will be lesion volumes (which generally correlates with clinical neuroimaging), region specific neuronal loss and behavioral tests. The experiments performed at the CNRS will identify the most neuroprotective biologic.