How long do rats live after a stroke? - briefly
Following an experimentally induced cerebral infarction, rats usually survive only a few days, with mortality peaking within the first 24‑72 hours for severe lesions. With milder strokes and optimal care, survival can extend to several weeks, occasionally reaching two‑to‑three months.
How long do rats live after a stroke? - in detail
Rats subjected to experimentally induced cerebral ischemia exhibit a wide range of survival times, largely dependent on stroke severity, age, strain, and post‑injury care. In mild focal ischemia models, mortality may be under 10 % within the first week, with most animals living several weeks to months after the event. Moderate to severe middle‑cerebral‑artery occlusion often results in 30–70 % mortality during the initial 48 hours; survivors typically persist for 2–4 weeks before progressive deterioration leads to euthanasia or natural death. Very severe global ischemia can cause near‑complete mortality within 24 hours.
Key determinants of post‑stroke longevity include:
- Infarct size: Larger lesions correlate with higher early mortality and shorter overall survival.
- Age at induction: Older rats (>12 months) show reduced resilience, with median survival decreasing by 30–50 % compared to young adults.
- Genetic background: Sprague‑Dawley and Wistar strains display moderate survival; spontaneously hypertensive rats often experience accelerated decline.
- Therapeutic interventions: Neuroprotective agents, hypothermia, and rehabilitation can extend life by 1–3 weeks in severe models.
- Housing conditions: Adequate temperature, hydration, and analgesia reduce stress‑related deaths, especially in the acute phase.
Experimental timelines commonly used to assess functional recovery reflect these survival patterns. Short‑term studies (0–7 days) focus on acute injury and mortality; intermediate investigations (7–28 days) evaluate neurobehavioral outcomes; long‑term protocols (≥30 days) require careful selection of milder stroke models to ensure sufficient animal numbers survive for chronic assessment.
Overall, the expected lifespan after a cerebrovascular insult in rats varies from a few days in lethal models to several months in mild cases, with the majority of survivors persisting for 2–4 weeks before significant decline.