To establish a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIR) model in cynomolgus monkeys under digital subtraction angiography (DSA) guidance and to evaluate the application value of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the modeling process.

Eight adult cynomolgus monkeys were selected, without cerebrovascular malformations or intracranial space-occupying lesions. The middle cerebral artery (MCA) was successfully embolized under DSA guidance to establish the CIR model. Multimodal MRI was performed at 1 h post-operation to confirm the embolization site and ischemic area. Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was administered at 2.5 h, followed by serial multimodal MRI scans at 4 h, 24 h, and 7 d post-operation to assess therapeutic changes. Animals were sacrificed on day 8 for 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining of brain tissues.

Successful embolization was angiographically confirmed in six animals. Following thrombolytic reperfusion, the relative area of hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) gradually decreased at 4 h, 24 h, and 7 d, accompanied by continuously increasing apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated MCA recanalization with gradual enhancement of vascular signal intensity and increased visualization of distal branches. The relative area of TTC-unstained regions was significantly smaller than the DWI hyperintensity area at 4 h and was consistent with the MRI findings at 7 days.

A CIR model in cynomolgus monkeys can be successfully established under DSA guidance. Multimodal MRI (DWI, ADC, MRA) is valuable for dynamically evaluating vascular recanalization and changes in ischemic brain area in this model.