A novel method of detecting rCBF with laser-Doppler flowmetry without cranial window through the skull for a MCAO rat model.

Background And Purpose: In a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with intraluminal technique, lesion volume and its reproducibility vary among laboratories. Although laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) is useful to optimize the reliability, conventional methods require a craniotomy and special apparatus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel approach for LDF monitoring of rCBF through lateral aspect of the skull without a craniotomy.