Abstract:

Objective To establish newborn rat model of obstructive hydrocephalus by kaolin suspension injection. Methods The newborn rats (aged 1 d) were injected with kaolin suspension through cistern magna (experiment group, n=40), and saline control group (n=10) and normal control group (n=10) were also established. Rats in experiment group were divided into four subgroups (n=10), and were observed 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks after injection, respectively. Rats underwent MRI examinations 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks after injection. Space learning and memory ability was assessed with Morris water maze tests when rats aged one month. Results Rats in experiment group exhibited ataxic behaviors such as hunch back and wide based gait. One week after kaolin injection, cerebral ventricle enlargement was observed by MRI in rats of experiment group, and significant cerebral ventricle enlargement and atrophy of cortex parenchyma were revealed at the 4th week. Rats in experiment group could not find platform accurately in Morris water maze tests, and the escape latency of rats in experiment group was significantly longer than that in saline control group and normal control group at the 4th day, 5th day and 6th day of training (P<0.01). Conclusion Kaolin injection through cistern magna can effectively establish rat model of obstructive hydrocephalus.

Key words: hydrocephalus, kaolin, Morris water maze, newborn rat