Differences in the cerebrovascular anatomy of C57Black/6 and SV129 mice

The vascular architecture of the brain of C57Black/6 and SV129 mice was studied following microvascular injection of carbon black stained latex. The dorsal brain surface was photographed to determine the number, diameter, and position of pial anastomotic vessels between the middle and anterior cerebral arteries. The mean number and diameter of anastomoses were not significantly different, but the line of anastomoses interconnecting the half way points of anastomotic vessels was located significantly closer to the midline in C57Black/6 mice, demonstrating that the middle cerebral artery had a larger vascular supplying territory than in SV129 mice. This explains the larger infarct volume previously reported in C57Black/6 mice, and raises concerns about the use of C57Black/6 and SV129 mice as parent strains for genetically modified animals in stroke research.