Objective       To improve the electrocoagulation method for establishing a rat cerebral apoplexy model

and to evaluate the improved electrocoagulation method.      Methods       Rat cerebral apoplexy models were established with Tamura method and an improved electrocoagulation method separately. Twenty-six adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (body weights 200 to 300 g) were divided into five groups: a Tamura operation group

a Tamura sham-operation group (no middle cerebral artery occlusion)

a first improved operation group (middle cerebral artery occlusion in position 1)

a second improved operation group (middle cerebral artery occlusion in position 2)

and an improved sham-operation group (no middle cerebral artery occlusion). After operation

the neurological deficit and cerebral infarction area and site of rats were tested.      Results       Compared with Tamura method

the improved electrocoagulation method had shorter operation time and did not induce temporomandibular joint disorder. No obvious neurological deficit was found in the rats of the first improved operation group

but obvious paralysis of limbs was found in the rats of the second improved operation group. The rats of the first improved operation group that had infarction confined in the cerebral cortex exhibited a smaller infarction area than the rats of the second improved operation group that had infarction in the cerebral cortex and lateral caudoputamen.      Conclusion       The improved electrocoagulation method is simpler and more efficient

has lower requirements for equipments and operation techniques

and causes less injury to rats. With middle cerebral artery occlusion at different sites

the improved electrocoagulation method can induce cerebral infarction in different areas and at different sites

and thus

is suitable for experiments with different conditions and purposes.