Since its inception in 2004, Doccol has been at the forefront of stroke research, thanks to our MCAO sutures which have earned trust and recognition in thousands of academic publications worldwide. Our sutures are meticulously designed to create precise ischemic stroke models in rats and mice, combining the strength of nylon monofilaments with an innovative silicone-rubber coating. This unique composition ensures a reliable occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, significantly reducing the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage and setting a new standard for excellence in stroke modeling.
Our MCAO sutures stand out for their ability to decrease variability in stroke models, with a standard deviation as narrow as 5% of the mean infarction volume. This remarkable precision reflects our dedication to pushing the boundaries of stroke research. To gain insight into how Doccol MCAO sutures have transformed stroke modeling, we invite you to read our article, 'Doccol Made a Difference in Stroke Modeling'. Join us on a path of discovery with Doccol and play a role in pioneering breakthroughs in stroke research.
We provide a wide range of nylon monofilament MCAO sutures, from sizes USP 3-0 to 8-0, systematically organized by coating diameter and length to streamline your selection process. The matching chart below may assist you in finding the optimal suture for your research needs with ease, which matches animal body weight with tip diameters of the suggested MCAO occluders.
Coating lengths are available from 1-2 mm to 9-10 mm. A super long coating length from 10 mm to 15 mm may also be possible through special request to Doccol. The most commonly purchased MCAO sutures have coating lengths of 5-6 mm and 4-5 mm. A shorter coating length leaves more bare surface area on the MCAO suture, which makes the surgeon feel easier to handle it. However, a shorter coating length may increase the chance of incomplete occlusion in inexperienced hands. If the coated part of the MCAO suture passes over the origin of MCA, the blood from the posterior circulation may reach MCA through the residue space around the uncoated part of the MCAO suture. A longer coating length may increase the chance of complete occlusion; however, its increased contacting area with endothelial cells may cause more traction force on those contacted endothelial cells. Such traction may cause endothelial cell damage when you withdraw the MCAO suture for reperfusion. In a summary, a shorter length may be good for reperfusion while longer length good for permanent occlusion; and the selection of the coating length will depend on your own study design, lab setting, and your surgical skill.
Regular monofilaments are designed for just one time use for most common experiments, and are not recommended for repeated use. Reusable MCAO sutures are specially designed and manufactured such that they have a more uniformed coating surface and a more rigid bare filament, which make them maintaining their shapes better after their initial use than the disposable ones do. They are designed to use twice and may be ideal for the in vivo efficacy study by using paired-controls, in which the paired animals have the same body weight and use the same monofilament. Such a use of paired-controls may drastically increase the consistence of infarction volume. In a catalog number “Re” stands for reusable.
