Evaluation of therapeutic low-frequency transcranial ultrasound in an embolic MCA occlusion model in rats

Background: Therapeutic application of diagnostic ultrasound has been shown to improve recanalisation rates in patients with acute cerebral vessel occlusion. There is experimental evidence that low-frequency ultrasound may be superior to diagnostic ultrasound. This study was designed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and safety of low-frequency ultrasound in an embolic MCA occlusion model in rats. A parameter setting was used that, in a previous study, had not shown any side effects and interactions with healthy rat brain tissue. Methods: Male Wistar rats were submitted to MCA clot embolism. After induction of is…