Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Mice

All studies were conducted using young age-matched male mice. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by either permanent (p) or transient (t) middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). pMCAo permanent occlusion of the distal part of the left MCA was performed as detailed in Clausen et al. [10 (link)]. tMCAo transient occlusion (40 min) of the right MCA was performed using the intraluminal filament placement technique, as detailed in Inacio et al. [35 (link)], under 1.5 % isoflurane anesthesia. All studies were conducted as randomized, double-blinded studies, with inclusion of sham-operated mice and unlesioned controls (Ctl). Blood flow and body temperature were monitored using the optical fiber probe (VP10 M200ST, UK) and endoscopic temperature probe (T6a, UK) from Moor Instruments. The study was approved by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (J. no. 2011/561-1950). An overview of the different mouse groups used for assessment of the effect of IL-1Ra and IL-1Ra-producing cells on infarct volume is provided in Table S1.