Thrombolytic Therapy in Ischemic Stroke: Relevance and Limitations of Animal Models

We have recently asked the question: “why model stroke?” [29] in reaction to still further proliferation of new devices and techniques for inducing infarction. Currently the combinations of methodologies and various animal species have produced options as variable as the natural history of stroke itself. Indeed we may select the model that gives us the results we want. Unfortunately it is the enthusiasm generated by such planned optional results that places patients at risk in premature clinical trials [7, 12, 23].