Abstract #3060

Arterial Spin Labeling-Based Longitudinal Monitoring of CBF and CVR Following Permanent Unilateral Ligation of the Common Carotid Artery

Tom Struys¹,², Tom Dresselaers¹, Sarah Caers¹, Wouter Oosterlinck³, Ann Van Santvoort¹, Ivo Lambrichts², Uwe Himmelreich¹

¹Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; ²Department of Functional Morphology, Universiteit Hasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium; ³Cardiovascular Diseases, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

This study reports on the longitudinal changes in CBF and CVR, assessed by ASL, in free breathing and ventilated animals which underwent a permanent unilateral ligation of the common carotid artery (CCA). Data indicate that a specific vascular response is elicited upon CCA ligation which suggests a temporal limitation in auto regulation of the vascular network and a spontaneous recovery over time. These findings provide a better understanding of the effect of a permanent CCA ligation and how it contributes to the interpretation of the dynamics observed in the penumbra CBF in the mouse transient MCAO model for stroke.