Stroke is a common and devastating disease, and the greatest cause of disability. It is a life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. There are 2 main causes of strokes:

• Ischemic – where the blood supply is stopped because of a blood clot, accounting for 85% of all cases
• Hemorrhagic – where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts

Stroke is studied in animal models by permanently or transiently occluding a cerebral artery that causes a severe reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the territory of that artery. Stroke mouse models are suitable for in vivo exploration of the apoptosis mechanism and screening of potential neuroprotective drug candidates.