Induction of Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice

ICH was induced by unilateral intrastriatial infusion of collagenase type VII-S (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) as we have described previously [11 (link)]. Briefly, mice were anesthetized with isoflurane (3% induction, 1–1.5% maintenance) and immobilized on a stereotactic frame (Stoelting, Wood Dale, IL, USA). After making a small incision in the skin overlying the skull, a craniotomy was performed 0.5 mm anterior and 2.4 mm right of bregma. Collagenase (0.04 units in 0.2 µl of sterile saline) was infused 3.2 mm ventral from the dura over a 5-min period using a syringe with a 26-gauge blunt tip needle (Hamilton Co., Reno, NV, USA). Rectal temperatures were maintained at 37.0 ± 0.5°C throughout all surgical procedures and mice were allowed to recover in temperature- and humidity-controlled chambers for at least 1 h postoperatively.