Abstract: The factors affecting cerebral ischemia model of rat established by middle cerebral artery occlusion include animal selection, drugs of anesthesia, surgical site, thread affect building, and etc. To find and manufacture an appropriate thread is the key to success. It includes the species, length, diameter, hardness, and placing method of the thread. The improvement of these factors greatly increases the successful rate in the establishment of focal cerebra ischemia model of rat caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Key words: cerebral ischemia, rat, animal model, review