Stage-dependent Patterns of Collateral Blood Flow Development in Cervical Soft Tissues During Cerebral Hypoperfusion in Rats

Introduction. Bilateral ligation of the common carotid arteries in laboratory rats has become the gold standard for modeling cerebral hypoperfusion. Specialized literature demonstrates partial restoration of blood flow in the vascular territory of the common carotid arteries, which is due to the development of collateral blood flow pathways.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the intraorgan angioarchitectonics of certain neck organs under normal conditions and following bilateral ligation of the common carotid arteries in rats, in order to identify the characteristics of collateral blood flow pathway development during cerebral hypoperfusion.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted on 15 male Wistar rats. Four rats served as the intact control group, and 9 rats with a cerebral hypoperfusion model were euthanized at 8, 21, and 35 days post-operation; 2 rats died after the surgery. The vascular bed was injected with a black ink-gelatin mass.

Results. In the early stages (8 days), a decrease in blood filling of the hemocapillaries was observed in all studied neck organs. The most intensive growth of the collateral vessel network occurred in the fascial sheath of the cervical neurovascular bundle and its components—the internal jugular vein and the vagus nerve. By day 21 post-operation, the diameters of arterial anastomoses increased by 27.7 % in preparations of the proper fascia, by 40.1 % in the neck muscles, and by 18.5 % in the pharyngeal wall. Blood filling of the hemocapillaries increased. By day 35, major blood flow pathways were formed, which played the primary role in compensating for blood flow after bilateral common carotid artery ligation.

Conclusion. Thus, the development of collateral blood flow pathways during modeled cerebral hypoperfusion exhibits distinct stages.

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