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McPherson JI, Prakash Krishnan Muthaiah V, Kaliyappan K, Leddy JJ, Personius KE. Temporal expression of brainstem neurotrophic proteins following mild traumatic brain injury. Brain Res 2024; 1835:148908. [PMID: 38582416 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BDNF, a neurotrophic factor, and its receptors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The brainstem houses many vital functions, that are also associated with signs and symptoms of mTBI, but has been understudied in mTBI animal models. We determined the extent to which neurotrophic protein and associated receptor expression is affected within the brainstem of adult rats following mTBI. Their behavioral function was assessed and temporal expression of the 'negative' regulators of neuronal function (p75, t-TrkB, and pro-BDNF) and 'positive' neuroprotective (FL-TrkB and m-BDNF) protein isoforms were determined via western blot and immunohistochemistry at 1, 3, 7, and 14 post-injury days (PID) following mTBI or sham (control) procedure. Within the brainstem, p75 expression increased at PID 1 vs. sham animals. t-TrkB and pro-BDNF expression increased at PID 7 and 14. The 'positive' protein isoforms of FL-TrkB and m-BDNF expression were increased only at PID 7. The ratio of t-TrkB:FL-TrkB (negative:positive) was substantial across groups and time points, suggesting a negative impact of neurotrophic signaling on neuronal function. Additional NeuN experiments revealed cell death occurring within a subset of neurons within the medulla. While behavioral measures improved by PID 7-14, negative neurotrophic biochemical responses persisted. Despite the assertion that mTBI produces "mild" injury, evidence of cell death was observed in the medulla. Ratios of TrkB and BDNF isoforms with conflicting functions suggest that future work should specifically measure each subtype since they induce opposing downstream effects on neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob I McPherson
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.
| | - Vijaya Prakash Krishnan Muthaiah
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Kathiravan Kaliyappan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - John J Leddy
- Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Kirkwood E Personius
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
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2
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Fesharaki-Zadeh A, Datta D. An overview of preclinical models of traumatic brain injury (TBI): relevance to pathophysiological mechanisms. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1371213. [PMID: 38682091 PMCID: PMC11045909 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1371213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting millions annually worldwide. Although the majority of TBI patients return to premorbid baseline, a subset of patient can develop persistent and often debilitating neurocognitive and behavioral changes. The etiology of TBI within the clinical setting is inherently heterogenous, ranging from sport related injuries, fall related injuries and motor vehicle accidents in the civilian setting, to blast injuries in the military setting. Objective Animal models of TBI, offer the distinct advantage of controlling for injury modality, duration and severity. Furthermore, preclinical models of TBI have provided the necessary temporal opportunity to study the chronic neuropathological sequelae of TBI, including neurodegenerative sequelae such as tauopathy and neuroinflammation within the finite experimental timeline. Despite the high prevalence of TBI, there are currently no disease modifying regimen for TBI, and the current clinical treatments remain largely symptom based. The preclinical models have provided the necessary biological substrate to examine the disease modifying effect of various pharmacological agents and have imperative translational value. Methods The current review will include a comprehensive survey of well-established preclinical models, including classic preclinical models including weight drop, blast injury, fluid percussion injury, controlled cortical impact injury, as well as more novel injury models including closed-head impact model of engineered rotational acceleration (CHIMERA) models and closed-head projectile concussive impact model (PCI). In addition to rodent preclinical models, the review will include an overview of other species including large animal models and Drosophila. Results There are major neuropathological perturbations post TBI captured in various preclinical models, which include neuroinflammation, calcium dysregulation, tauopathy, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, axonopathy, as well as glymphatic system disruption. Conclusion The preclinical models of TBI continue to offer valuable translational insight, as well as essential neurobiological basis to examine specific disease modifying therapeutic regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dibyadeep Datta
- Division of Aging and Geriatric Psychiatry, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, United States
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Michalovicz LT, Kelly KA, Craddock TJA, O'Callaghan JP. A Projectile Concussive Impact Model Produces Neuroinflammation in Both Mild and Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13040623. [PMID: 37190590 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13040623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability and is experienced by nearly 3 million people annually as a result of falls, vehicular accidents, or from being struck by or against an object. While TBIs can range in severity, the majority of injuries are considered to be mild. However, TBI of any severity has the potential to have long-lasting neurological effects, including headaches, cognitive/memory impairments, mood dysfunction, and fatigue as a result of neural damage and neuroinflammation. Here, we modified a projectile concussive impact (PCI) model of TBI to deliver a closed-head impact with variable severity dependent on the material of the ball-bearing projectile. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were evaluated for neurobehavioral, neuroinflammatory, and neural damage endpoints both acutely and longer-term (up to 72 h) post-TBI following impact with either an aluminum or stainless-steel projectile. Animals that received TBI using the stainless-steel projectile exhibited outcomes strongly correlated to moderate-severe TBI, such as prolonged unconsciousness, impaired neurobehavior, increased risk for hematoma and death, as well as significant neuronal degeneration and neuroinflammation throughout the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellum. In contrast, rats that received TBI with the aluminum projectile exhibited characteristics more congruous with mild TBI, such as a trend for longer periods of unconsciousness in the absence of neurobehavioral deficits, a lack of neurodegeneration, and mild neuroinflammation. Moreover, alignment of cytokine mRNA expression from the cortex of these rats with a computational model of neuron-glia interaction found that the moderate-severe TBI produced by the stainless-steel projectile strongly associated with the neuroinflammatory state, while the mild TBI existed in a state between normal and inflammatory neuron-glia interactions. Thus, these modified PCI protocols are capable of producing TBIs that model the clinical and experimental manifestations associated with both moderate-severe and mild TBI producing relevant models for the evaluation of the potential underlying roles of neuroinflammation and other chronic pathophysiology in the long-term outcomes associated with TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay T Michalovicz
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26508, USA
| | - Kimberly A Kelly
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26508, USA
| | - Travis J A Craddock
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Department of Clinical Immunology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computing, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - James P O'Callaghan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26508, USA
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Zhang C, Qian X, Zheng J, Ai P, Cao X, Pan X, Chen T, Wang Y. Controlled Decompression Alleviates Brain Injury via Attenuating Oxidative Damage and Neuroinflammation in Acute Intracranial Hypertension. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:1936691. [PMID: 35187159 PMCID: PMC8850036 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1936691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The benefits of controlled decompression (CDC) for patients with acute intracranial hypertension especially in terms of alleviating the complications caused by rapid decompression (RDC) have been confirmed by clinical studies. This study is aimed at evaluating the therapeutic potency of CDC with ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by investigating the potential molecular mechanism in the acute intracranial hypertension (AICH) rabbit model. METHODS Male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly subdivided into the sham-operated (SH) group, CDC group, and RDC group. Blood plasma samples and brain tissue were collected 2 days before operation (baseline) and at 3, 6, 24, and 72 hours after operation to measure the levels of UCH-L1, GFAP, oxidative stress indicators, and inflammatory cytokines by performing ELISA or Western blot. The neurological score of the rabbits and brain water content was graded 24 h after surgery. qPCR, immunofluorescence, and FJ-C staining were conducted. RESULTS CDC improved neurological function, lowered brain water content, ameliorated neuronal degeneration, attenuated oxidative damage, and inflammatory responses to a greater extent than RDC. Plasma UCH-L1 level was significantly lower in the CDC group at 3 h postoperatively than in the RDC group. CDC reduced plasma GFAP levels to various degrees at 3 h, 6 h, and 24 h postoperatively compared with RDC. Immunofluorescence confirmed that the expression of UCH-L1 and GFAP in the cortex of the CDC group was lower than that of the RDC group. CONCLUSIONS Our data collectively demonstrate that CDC could attenuate oxidative damage and inflammatory responses, downregulate UCH-L1 and GFAP levels, and contribute to an improved neuroprotective effect compared with RDC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonghui Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The 904th Hospital of PLA, Medical School of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214044, China
| | - Xiao Qian
- Department of Neurosurgery, The 904th Hospital of PLA, Medical School of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214044, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The 904th Hospital of PLA, Medical School of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214044, China
| | - Pu Ai
- Department of Neurosurgery, The 904th Hospital of PLA, Medical School of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214044, China
| | - Xinyi Cao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The 904th Hospital of PLA, Medical School of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214044, China
| | - Xiaofei Pan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The 904th Hospital of PLA, Medical School of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214044, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The 904th Hospital of PLA, Medical School of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214044, China
| | - Yuhai Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The 904th Hospital of PLA, Medical School of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214044, China
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Garrick JM, Costa LG, Cole TB, Marsillach J. Evaluating Gait and Locomotion in Rodents with the CatWalk. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e220. [PMID: 34370398 PMCID: PMC8363132 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Motor deficits can significantly affect the completion of daily life activities and have a negative impact on quality of life. Consequently, motor function is an important behavioral endpoint to measure for in vivo pathophysiologic studies in a variety of research areas, such as toxicant exposure, drug development, disease characterization, and transgenic phenotyping. Evaluation of motor function is also critical to the interpretation of cognitive behavioral assays, as many rely on intact motor abilities to derive meaningful data. As such, gait analysis is an important component of behavioral research and can be achieved by manual or video-assisted methods. Manual gait analysis methods, however, are prone to observer bias and are unable to capture many critical parameters. In contrast, automated video-assisted gait analysis can quickly and reliably assess gait and locomotor abnormalities that were previously difficult to collect manually. Here, we describe the evaluation of gait and locomotion in rodents using the automated Noldus CatWalk XT system. We include a step-by-step guide for running an experiment using the CatWalk XT system and discuss theory and considerations when evaluating rodent gait. The protocol and discussion provided here act as a supplemental resource to the manual for this commercially available system and can assist CatWalk users in their experimental design and implementation. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M. Garrick
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Lucio G. Costa
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Dept. of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
| | - Toby B. Cole
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Center on Human Development and Disabilities, University of Washington, United States
| | - Judit Marsillach
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Kuo CW, Chang MY, Liu HH, He XK, Chan SY, Huang YZ, Peng CW, Chang PK, Pan CY, Hsieh TH. Cortical Electrical Stimulation Ameliorates Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Sensorimotor and Cognitive Deficits in Rats. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:693073. [PMID: 34194304 PMCID: PMC8236591 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.693073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Individuals with different severities of traumatic brain injury (TBI) often suffer long-lasting motor, sensory, neurological, or cognitive disturbances. To date, no neuromodulation-based therapies have been used to manage the functional deficits associated with TBI. Cortical electrical stimulation (CES) has been increasingly developed for modulating brain plasticity and is considered to have therapeutic potential in TBI. However, the therapeutic value of such a technique for TBI is still unclear. Accordingly, an animal model of this disease would be helpful for mechanistic insight into using CES as a novel treatment approach in TBI. The current study aims to apply a novel CES scheme with a theta-burst stimulation (TBS) protocol to identify the therapeutic potential of CES in a weight drop-induced rat model of TBI. Methods: TBI rats were divided into the sham CES treatment group and CES treatment group. Following early and long-term CES intervention (starting 24 h after TBI, 1 session/day, 5 days/week) in awake TBI animals for a total of 4 weeks, the effects of CES on the modified neurological severity score (mNSS), sensorimotor and cognitive behaviors and neuroinflammatory changes were identified. Results: We found that the 4-week CES intervention significantly alleviated the TBI-induced neurological, sensorimotor, and cognitive deficits in locomotor activity, sensory and recognition memory. Immunohistochemically, we found that CES mitigated the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) activation in the hippocampus. Conclusion: These findings suggest that CES has significant benefits in alleviating TBI-related symptoms and represents a promising treatment for TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Wei Kuo
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yuan Chang
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Early Childhood and Family Educare, Chung Chou University of Science and Technology, Yuanlin, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Hua Liu
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Kuo He
- Fifth Hospital of Xiamen, Xiamen, China.,Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shu-Yen Chan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Zu Huang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wei Peng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pi-Kai Chang
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yuan Pan
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsun Hsieh
- School of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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7
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Wang KKW, Kobeissy FH, Shakkour Z, Tyndall JA. Thorough overview of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein as tandem biomarkers recently cleared by US Food and Drug Administration for the evaluation of intracranial injuries among patients with traumatic brain injury. Acute Med Surg 2021; 8:e622. [PMID: 33510896 PMCID: PMC7814989 DOI: 10.1002/ams2.622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity affecting all ages. It remains to be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, in which, to date, there is no Food and Drug Administration‐approved drug for treating patients suffering from TBI. The heterogeneity of the disease and the associated complex pathophysiology make it difficult to assess the level of the trauma and to predict the clinical outcome. Current injury severity assessment relies primarily on the Glasgow Coma Scale score or through neuroimaging, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans. Nevertheless, such approaches have certain limitations when it comes to accuracy and cost efficiency, as well as exposing patients to unnecessary radiation. Consequently, extensive research work has been carried out to improve the diagnostic accuracy of TBI, especially in mild injuries, because they are often difficult to diagnose. The need for accurate and objective diagnostic measures led to the discovery of biomarkers significantly associated with TBI. Among the most well‐characterized biomarkers are ubiquitin C‐terminal hydrolase‐L1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The current review presents an overview regarding the structure and function of these distinctive protein biomarkers, along with their clinical significance that led to their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration to evaluate mild TBI in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K W Wang
- Program for Neurotrauma Neuroproteomics and Biomarkers Research Departments of Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Chemistry University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA.,Brain Rehabilitation Research Center (BRRC) Malcom Randall VA Medical Center North Florida / South Georgia Veterans Health System Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Firas H Kobeissy
- Department of Emergency Medicine University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Zaynab Shakkour
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Faculty of Medicine American University of Beirut Beirut Lebanon
| | - J Adrian Tyndall
- Department of Emergency Medicine University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
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Stuart S, Parrington L, Martini DN, Kreter N, Chesnutt JC, Fino PC, King LA. Analysis of Free-Living Mobility in People with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Healthy Controls: Quality over Quantity. J Neurotrauma 2020; 37:139-145. [DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Stuart
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
| | - Lucy Parrington
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
| | - Douglas N. Martini
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
| | - Nicholas Kreter
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
| | - James C. Chesnutt
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Peter C. Fino
- Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Laurie A. King
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
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9
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Bodnar CN, Roberts KN, Higgins EK, Bachstetter AD. A Systematic Review of Closed Head Injury Models of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice and Rats. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:1683-1706. [PMID: 30661454 PMCID: PMC6555186 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild TBI (mTBI) is a significant health concern. Animal models of mTBI are essential for understanding mechanisms, and pathological outcomes, as well as to test therapeutic interventions. A variety of closed head models of mTBI that incorporate different aspects (i.e., biomechanics) of the mTBI have been reported. The aim of the current review was to compile a comprehensive list of the closed head mTBI rodent models, along with the common data elements, and outcomes, with the goal to summarize the current state of the field. Publications were identified from a search of PubMed and Web of Science and screened for eligibility following PRISMA guidelines. Articles were included that were closed head injuries in which the authors classified the injury as mild in rats or mice. Injury model and animal-specific common data elements, as well as behavioral and histological outcomes, were collected and compiled from a total of 402 articles. Our results outline the wide variety of methods used to model mTBI. We also discovered that female rodents and both young and aged animals are under-represented in experimental mTBI studies. Our findings will aid in providing context comparing the injury models and provide a starting point for the selection of the most appropriate model of mTBI to address a specific hypothesis. We believe this review will be a useful starting place for determining what has been done and what knowledge is missing in the field to reduce the burden of mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen N. Bodnar
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Kelly N. Roberts
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Emma K. Higgins
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Adam D. Bachstetter
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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10
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Bolton-Hall AN, Hubbard WB, Saatman KE. Experimental Designs for Repeated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Challenges and Considerations. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:1203-1221. [PMID: 30351225 PMCID: PMC6479246 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI) is a growing public concern, as evidence mounts that even brain injuries classified as "mild" can result in persistent neurological dysfunction. Multiple brain injuries heighten the likelihood of worsened or more prolonged symptomatology and may trigger long-term neurodegeneration. Animal models provide a logical platform to identify key parameters, such as loading forces, duration between injuries, and number of injuries, which contribute to additive or synergistic damage after repeated mild TBI. Despite the tremendous increase in research productivity in the field of repeated mild TBI, relatively few studies have been designed in such a way as to provide experimental-based insights into the dependence of cellular and functional outcomes on the prescribed parameters of mild TBI. In this review, we summarize how standard models of TBI have been adapted to produce mild TBI and highlight commonly observed aspects of neuropathology replicated in rodent models of mild TBI. The complexity of designing studies of repeated TBI is discussed, including challenges of incorporating appropriate control groups, informative experimental design, and relevant outcome measures. We then feature studies that provide a well-controlled, within-study design varying either the number of injuries or the interinjury interval. Harnessing the power of experimental models of TBI to elucidate which injury parameters are critical contributors to acute and chronic damage after repeated injury can further efforts at prevention and provide improved models for testing mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda N. Bolton-Hall
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - W. Brad Hubbard
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Kathryn E. Saatman
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
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11
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Madathil SK, Wilfred BS, Urankar SE, Yang W, Leung LY, Gilsdorf JS, Shear DA. Early Microglial Activation Following Closed-Head Concussive Injury Is Dominated by Pro-Inflammatory M-1 Type. Front Neurol 2018; 9:964. [PMID: 30498469 PMCID: PMC6249371 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglial activation is a pathological hallmark of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Following brain injury, activated microglia/macrophages adopt different phenotypes, generally categorized as M-1, or classically activated, and M-2, or alternatively activated. While the M-1, or pro-inflammatory phenotype is detrimental to recovery, M-2, or the anti-inflammatory phenotype, aids in brain repair. Recent findings also suggest the existence of mixed phenotype following brain injury, where activated microglia simultaneously express both M-1 and M-2 markers. The present study sought to determine microglial activation states at early time points (6-72 h) following single or repeated concussive injury in rats. Closed-head concussive injury was modeled in rats using projectile concussive impact injury, with either single or repeated impacts (4 impacts, 1 h apart). Brain samples were examined using immunohistochemical staining, inflammatory gene profiling and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses to detect concussive injury induced changes in microglial activation and phenotype in cortex and hippocampal regions. Our findings demonstrate robust microglial activation following concussive brain injury. Moreover, we show that multiple concussions induced a unique rod-shaped microglial morphology that was also observed in other diffuse brain injury models. Histological studies revealed a predominance of MHC-II positive M-1 phenotype in the post-concussive microglial milieu following multiple impacts. Although there was simultaneous expression of M-1 and M-2 markers, gene expression results indicate a clear dominance in M-1 pro-inflammatory markers following both single and repeated concussions. While the increase in M-1 markers quickly resolved after a single concussion, they persisted following repeated concussions, indicating a pro-inflammatory environment induced by multiple concussions that may delay recovery and contribute to long-lasting consequences of concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu K Madathil
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Bernard S Wilfred
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Sarah E Urankar
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Weihong Yang
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Lai Yee Leung
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Janice S Gilsdorf
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Deborah A Shear
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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12
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Madathil SK, Wilfred BS, Urankar SE, Yang W, Leung LY, Gilsdorf JS, Shear DA. Early Microglial Activation Following Closed-Head Concussive Injury Is Dominated by Pro-Inflammatory M-1 Type. Front Neurol 2018. [PMID: 30498469 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00964/full] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglial activation is a pathological hallmark of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Following brain injury, activated microglia/macrophages adopt different phenotypes, generally categorized as M-1, or classically activated, and M-2, or alternatively activated. While the M-1, or pro-inflammatory phenotype is detrimental to recovery, M-2, or the anti-inflammatory phenotype, aids in brain repair. Recent findings also suggest the existence of mixed phenotype following brain injury, where activated microglia simultaneously express both M-1 and M-2 markers. The present study sought to determine microglial activation states at early time points (6-72 h) following single or repeated concussive injury in rats. Closed-head concussive injury was modeled in rats using projectile concussive impact injury, with either single or repeated impacts (4 impacts, 1 h apart). Brain samples were examined using immunohistochemical staining, inflammatory gene profiling and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses to detect concussive injury induced changes in microglial activation and phenotype in cortex and hippocampal regions. Our findings demonstrate robust microglial activation following concussive brain injury. Moreover, we show that multiple concussions induced a unique rod-shaped microglial morphology that was also observed in other diffuse brain injury models. Histological studies revealed a predominance of MHC-II positive M-1 phenotype in the post-concussive microglial milieu following multiple impacts. Although there was simultaneous expression of M-1 and M-2 markers, gene expression results indicate a clear dominance in M-1 pro-inflammatory markers following both single and repeated concussions. While the increase in M-1 markers quickly resolved after a single concussion, they persisted following repeated concussions, indicating a pro-inflammatory environment induced by multiple concussions that may delay recovery and contribute to long-lasting consequences of concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu K Madathil
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Bernard S Wilfred
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Sarah E Urankar
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Weihong Yang
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Lai Yee Leung
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Janice S Gilsdorf
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Deborah A Shear
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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13
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Mountney A, Boutté AM, Cartagena CM, Flerlage WF, Johnson WD, Rho C, Lu XC, Yarnell A, Marcsisin S, Sousa J, Vuong C, Zottig V, Leung LY, Deng-Bryant Y, Gilsdorf J, Tortella FC, Shear DA. Functional and Molecular Correlates after Single and Repeated Rat Closed-Head Concussion: Indices of Vulnerability after Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma 2017; 34:2768-2789. [PMID: 28326890 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Closed-head concussive injury is one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Isolated concussions frequently produce acute neurological impairments, and individuals typically recover spontaneously within a short time frame. In contrast, brain injuries resulting from multiple concussions can result in cumulative damage and elevated risk of developing chronic brain pathologies. Increased attention has focused on identification of diagnostic markers that can prognostically serve as indices of brain health after injury, revealing the temporal profile of vulnerability to a second insult. Such markers may demarcate adequate recovery periods before concussed patients can return to required activities. We developed a noninvasive closed-head impact model that captures the hallmark symptoms of concussion in the absence of gross tissue damage. Animals were subjected to single or repeated concussive impact and examined using a battery of neurological, vestibular, sensorimotor, and molecular metrics. A single concussion induced transient, but marked, acute neurological impairment, gait alterations, neuronal death, and increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in brain tissue. As expected, repeated concussions exacerbated sensorimotor dysfunction, prolonged gait abnormalities, induced neuroinflammation, and upregulated GFAP and tau. These animals also exhibited chronic functional neurological impairments with sustained astrogliosis and white matter thinning. Acute changes in molecular signatures correlated with behavioral impairments, whereas increased times to regaining consciousness and balance impairments were associated with higher GFAP and neuroinflammation. Overall, behavioral consequences of either single or repeated concussive impact injuries appeared to resolve more quickly than the underlying molecular, metabolic, and neuropathological abnormalities. This observation, which is supported by similar studies in other mTBI models, underscores the critical need to develop more objective prognostic measures for guiding return-to-play decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mountney
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Angela M Boutté
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Casandra M Cartagena
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - William F Flerlage
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Wyane D Johnson
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Chanyang Rho
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Xi-Chu Lu
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Angela Yarnell
- 2 Behavioral Biology Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Sean Marcsisin
- 3 Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Military Malaria Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Jason Sousa
- 3 Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Military Malaria Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Chau Vuong
- 3 Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Military Malaria Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Victor Zottig
- 3 Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Military Malaria Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Lai-Yee Leung
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Ying Deng-Bryant
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Janice Gilsdorf
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Frank C Tortella
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Deborah A Shear
- 1 Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
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14
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Shultz SR, McDonald SJ, Vonder Haar C, Meconi A, Vink R, van Donkelaar P, Taneja C, Iverson GL, Christie BR. The potential for animal models to provide insight into mild traumatic brain injury: Translational challenges and strategies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 76:396-414. [PMID: 27659125 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common health problem. There is tremendous variability and heterogeneity in human mTBI, including mechanisms of injury, biomechanical forces, injury severity, spatial and temporal pathophysiology, genetic factors, pre-injury vulnerability and resilience factors, and clinical outcomes. Animal models greatly reduce this variability and heterogeneity, and provide a means to study mTBI in a rigorous, controlled, and efficient manner. Rodent models, in particular, are time- and cost-efficient, and they allow researchers to measure morphological, cellular, molecular, and behavioral variables in a single study. However, inter-species differences in anatomy, morphology, metabolism, neurobiology, and lifespan create translational challenges. Although the term "mild" TBI is used often in the pre-clinical literature, clearly defined criteria for mild, moderate, and severe TBI in animal models have not been agreed upon. In this review, we introduce current issues facing the mTBI field, summarize the available research methodologies and previous studies in mTBI animal models, and discuss how a translational research approach may be useful in advancing our understanding and management of mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy R Shultz
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Stuart J McDonald
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Cole Vonder Haar
- Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alicia Meconi
- Division of Medical Sciences, The University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Robert Vink
- Division of Health Sciences, The University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Paul van Donkelaar
- School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Chand Taneja
- Division of Medical Sciences, The University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, and MassGeneral Hospital for Children™ Sports Concussion Program, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian R Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, The University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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15
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Nathan DE, Bellgowan JF, Oakes TR, French LM, Nadar SR, Sham EB, Liu W, Riedy G. Assessing Quantitative Changes in Intrinsic Thalamic Networks in Blast and Nonblast Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Implications for Mechanisms of Injury. Brain Connect 2016; 6:389-402. [PMID: 26956452 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2015.0403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the global war on terror, the increased use of improvised explosive devices has resulted in increased incidence of blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Diagnosing mTBI is both challenging and controversial due to heterogeneity of injury location, trauma intensity, transient symptoms, and absence of focal biomarkers on standard clinical imaging modalities. The goal of this study is to identify a brain biomarker that is sensitive to mTBI injury. Research suggests the thalamus may be sensitive to changes induced by mTBI. A significant number of connections to and from various brain regions converge at the thalamus. In addition, the thalamus is involved in information processing, integration, and regulation of specific behaviors and mood. In this study, changes in task-free thalamic networks as quantified by graph theory measures in mTBI blast (N = 186), mTBI nonblast (N = 80), and controls (N = 21) were compared. Results show that the blast mTBI group had significant hyper-connectivity compared with the controls and nonblast mTBI group. However, after controlling for post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), the blast mTBI group was not different from the controls, but the nonblast mTBI group showed significant hypo-connectivity. The results suggest that there are differences in the mechanisms of injury related to mTBI as reflected in the architecture of the thalamic networks. However, the effect of PTSS and its relationship to mTBI is difficult to distinguish and warrants more research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic E Nathan
- 1 National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda, Maryland.,2 North Tide LLC , Dulles, Virginia.,3 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Julie F Bellgowan
- 1 National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda, Maryland.,2 North Tide LLC , Dulles, Virginia
| | - Terrence R Oakes
- 1 National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Louis M French
- 1 National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda, Maryland.,4 Center of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM) , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sreenivasan R Nadar
- 1 National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda, Maryland.,5 Henry M. Jackson Foundation , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Elyssa B Sham
- 1 National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda, Maryland.,2 North Tide LLC , Dulles, Virginia
| | - Wei Liu
- 1 National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda, Maryland.,2 North Tide LLC , Dulles, Virginia
| | - Gerard Riedy
- 1 National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda, Maryland.,3 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda, Maryland
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16
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Smith DH, Hicks RR, Johnson VE, Bergstrom DA, Cummings DM, Noble LJ, Hovda D, Whalen M, Ahlers ST, LaPlaca M, Tortella FC, Duhaime AC, Dixon CE. Pre-Clinical Traumatic Brain Injury Common Data Elements: Toward a Common Language Across Laboratories. J Neurotrauma 2015; 32:1725-35. [PMID: 26058402 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2014.3861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health issue exacting a substantial personal and economic burden globally. With the advent of "big data" approaches to understanding complex systems, there is the potential to greatly accelerate knowledge about mechanisms of injury and how to detect and modify them to improve patient outcomes. High quality, well-defined data are critical to the success of bioinformatics platforms, and a data dictionary of "common data elements" (CDEs), as well as "unique data elements" has been created for clinical TBI research. There is no data dictionary, however, for preclinical TBI research despite similar opportunities to accelerate knowledge. To address this gap, a committee of experts was tasked with creating a defined set of data elements to further collaboration across laboratories and enable the merging of data for meta-analysis. The CDEs were subdivided into a Core module for data elements relevant to most, if not all, studies, and Injury-Model-Specific modules for non-generalizable data elements. The purpose of this article is to provide both an overview of TBI models and the CDEs pertinent to these models to facilitate a common language for preclinical TBI research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas H Smith
- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ramona R Hicks
- 2 One Mind, Seattle, Washington.,3 National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Victoria E Johnson
- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Debra A Bergstrom
- 3 National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Diana M Cummings
- 3 National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Linda J Noble
- 4 Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - David Hovda
- 5 Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael Whalen
- 6 Department of Pediatrics, Neuroscience Center at Massachusetts General Hospital , Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Stephen T Ahlers
- 7 Operational & Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Michelle LaPlaca
- 8 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Frank C Tortella
- 9 Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | | | - C Edward Dixon
- 11 Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsyvania
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17
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Dodd AB, Epstein K, Ling JM, Mayer AR. Diffusion tensor imaging findings in semi-acute mild traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma 2015; 31:1235-48. [PMID: 24779720 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2014.3337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The past 10 years have seen a rapid increase in the use of diffusion tensor imaging to identify biomarkers of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although the literature generally indicates decreased anisotropic diffusion at more chronic injury periods and in more severe injuries, considerable debate remains regarding the direction (i.e., increased or decreased) of anisotropic diffusion in the acute to semi-acute phase (here defined as less than 3 months post-injury) of mild TBI (mTBI). A systematic review of the literature was therefore performed to (1) determine the prevalence of different anisotropic diffusion findings (increased, decreased, bidirectional, or null) during the semi-acute injury phase of mTBI and to (2) identify clinical (e.g., age of injury, post-injury scan time, etc.) and experimental factors (e.g., number of unique directions, field strength) that may influence these findings. Results from the literature review indicated 31 articles with independent samples of semi-acute mTBI patients, with 13 studies reporting decreased anisotropic diffusion, 11 reporting increased diffusion, 2 reporting bidirectional findings, and 5 reporting null findings. Chi-squared analyses indicated that the total number of diffusion-weighted (DW) images was significantly associated with findings of either increased (DW ≥ 30) versus decreased (DW ≤ 25) anisotropic diffusion. Other clinical and experimental factors were not statistically significant for direction of anisotropic diffusion, but these results may have been limited by the relatively small number of studies within each domain (e.g., pediatric studies). In summary, current results indicate roughly equivalent number of studies reporting increased versus decreased anisotropic diffusion during semi-acute mTBI, with the number of unique diffusion images being statistically associated with the direction of findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B Dodd
- 1 The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute , Albuquerque, New Mexico
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18
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Functional magnetic resonance imaging of mild traumatic brain injury. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 49:8-18. [PMID: 25434880 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) offers great promise for elucidating the neuropathology associated with a single or repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The current review discusses the physiological underpinnings of the blood-oxygen level dependent response and how trauma affects the signal. Methodological challenges associated with fMRI data analyses are considered next, followed by a review of current mTBI findings. The majority of evoked studies have examined working memory and attentional functioning, with results suggesting a complex relationship between cognitive load/attentional demand and neuronal activation. Researchers have more recently investigated how brain trauma affects functional connectivity, and the benefits/drawbacks of evoked and functional connectivity studies are also discussed. The review concludes by discussing the major clinical challenges associated with fMRI studies of brain-injured patients, including patient heterogeneity and variations in scan-time post-injury. We conclude that the fMRI signal represents a complex filter through which researchers can measure the physiological correlates of concussive symptoms, an important goal for the burgeoning field of mTBI research.
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19
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Cunningham TL, Cartagena CM, Lu XCM, Konopko M, Dave JR, Tortella FC, Shear DA. Correlations between blood-brain barrier disruption and neuroinflammation in an experimental model of penetrating ballistic-like brain injury. J Neurotrauma 2014; 31:505-14. [PMID: 24138024 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2013.2965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a pathological hallmark of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is associated with neuroinflammatory events contributing to brain edema and cell death. The goal of this study was to elucidate the profile of BBB disruption after penetrating ballistic-like brain injury (PBBI) in conjunction with changes in neuroinflammatory markers. Brain uptake of biotin-dextran amine (BDA; 3 kDa) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP; 44 kDa) was evaluated in rats at 4 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 7 days post-PBBI and compared with the histopathologic and molecular profiles for inflammatory markers. BDA and HRP both displayed a uniphasic profile of extravasation, greatest at 24 h post-injury and which remained evident out to 48 h for HRP and 7 days for BDA. This profile was most closely associated with markers for adhesion (mRNA for intercellular adhesion molecule-1) and infiltration of peripheral granulocytes (mRNA for matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9] and myeloperoxidase staining). Improvement of BBB dysfunction coincided with increased expression of markers implicated in tissue remodeling and repair. The results of this study reveal a uniphasic and gradient opening of the BBB after PBBI and suggest MMP-9 and resident inflammatory cell activation as candidates for future neurotherapeutic intervention after PBBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Cunningham
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience , Branch of Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration, Silver Spring, Maryland
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20
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Petraglia AL, Dashnaw ML, Turner RC, Bailes JE. Models of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Neurosurgery 2014; 75 Suppl 4:S34-49. [DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000000472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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21
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Gandy S, Ikonomovic MD, Mitsis E, Elder G, Ahlers ST, Barth J, Stone JR, DeKosky ST. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: clinical-biomarker correlations and current concepts in pathogenesis. Mol Neurodegener 2014; 9:37. [PMID: 25231386 PMCID: PMC4249716 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-9-37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a recently revived term used to describe a neurodegenerative process that occurs as a long term complication of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Corsellis provided one of the classic descriptions of CTE in boxers under the name “dementia pugilistica” (DP). Much recent attention has been drawn to the apparent association of CTE with contact sports (football, soccer, hockey) and with frequent battlefield exposure to blast waves generated by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Recently, a promising serum biomarker has been identified by measurement of serum levels of the neuronal microtubule associated protein tau. New positron emission tomography (PET) ligands (e.g., [18 F] T807) that identify brain tauopathy have been successfully deployed for the in vitro and in vivo detection of presumptive tauopathy in the brains of subjects with clinically probable CTE. Methods Major academic and lay publications on DP/CTE were reviewed beginning with the 1928 paper describing the initial use of the term CTE by Martland. Results The major current concepts in the neurological, psychiatric, neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and body fluid biomarker science of DP/CTE have been summarized. Newer achievements, such as serum tau and [18 F] T807 tauopathy imaging, are also introduced and their significance has been explained. Conclusion Recent advances in the science of DP/CTE hold promise for elucidating a long sought accurate determination of the true prevalence of CTE. This information holds potentially important public health implications for estimating the risk of contact sports in inflicting permanent and/or progressive brain damage on children, adolescents, and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Gandy
- Departments of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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22
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The WRAIR projectile concussive impact model of mild traumatic brain injury: re-design, testing and preclinical validation. Ann Biomed Eng 2014; 42:1618-30. [PMID: 24756867 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-014-1014-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The WRAIR projectile concussive impact (PCI) model was developed for preclinical study of concussion. It represents a truly non-invasive closed-head injury caused by a blunt impact. The original design, however, has several drawbacks that limit the manipulation of injury parameters. The present study describes engineering advancements made to the PCI injury model including helmet material testing, projectile impact energy/head kinematics and impact location. Material testing indicated that among the tested materials, 'fiber-glass/carbon' had the lowest elastic modulus and yield stress for providing an relative high percentage of load transfer from the projectile impact, resulting in significant hippocampal astrocyte activation. Impact energy testing of small projectiles, ranging in shape and size, showed the steel sphere produced the highest impact energy and the most consistent impact characteristics. Additional tests confirmed the steel sphere produced linear and rotational motions on the rat's head while remaining within a range that meets the criteria for mTBI. Finally, impact location testing results showed that PCI targeted at the temporoparietal surface of the rat head produced the most prominent gait abnormalities. Using the parameters defined above, pilot studies were conducted to provide initial validation of the PCI model demonstrating quantifiable and significant increases in righting reflex recovery time, axonal damage and astrocyte activation following single and multiple concussions.
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23
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Zhang YP, Cai J, Shields LBE, Liu N, Xu XM, Shields CB. Traumatic brain injury using mouse models. Transl Stroke Res 2014; 5:454-71. [PMID: 24493632 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-014-0327-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2013] [Revised: 12/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The use of mouse models in traumatic brain injury (TBI) has several advantages compared to other animal models including low cost of breeding, easy maintenance, and innovative technology to create genetically modified strains. Studies using knockout and transgenic mice demonstrating functional gain or loss of molecules provide insight into basic mechanisms of TBI. Mouse models provide powerful tools to screen for putative therapeutic targets in TBI. This article reviews currently available mouse models that replicate several clinical features of TBI such as closed head injuries (CHI), penetrating head injuries, and a combination of both. CHI may be caused by direct trauma creating cerebral concussion or contusion. Sudden acceleration-deceleration injuries of the head without direct trauma may also cause intracranial injury by the transmission of shock waves to the brain. Recapitulation of temporary cavities that are induced by high-velocity penetrating objects in the mouse brain are difficult to produce, but slow brain penetration injuries in mice are reviewed. Synergistic damaging effects on the brain following systemic complications are also described. Advantages and disadvantages of CHI mouse models induced by weight drop, fluid percussion, and controlled cortical impact injuries are compared. Differences in the anatomy, biomechanics, and behavioral evaluations between mice and humans are discussed. Although the use of mouse models for TBI research is promising, further development of these techniques is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ping Zhang
- Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare, 210 East Gray Street, Suite 1102, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA,
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24
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Hylin MJ, Orsi SA, Rozas NS, Hill JL, Zhao J, Redell JB, Moore AN, Dash PK. Repeated mild closed head injury impairs short-term visuospatial memory and complex learning. J Neurotrauma 2013; 30:716-26. [PMID: 23489238 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2012.2717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Concussive force can cause neurocognitive and neurobehavioral dysfunction by inducing functional, electrophysiological, and/or ultrastructural changes within the brain. Although concussion-triggered symptoms typically subside within days to weeks in most people, in 15%-20% of the cases, symptomology can continue beyond this time point. Problems with memory, attention, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility (e.g., problem solving, conflict resolution) are some of the prominent post-concussive cognitive symptoms. Repeated concussions (with loss or altered consciousness), which are common to many contact sports, can exacerbate these symptoms. The pathophysiology of repeated concussions is not well understood, nor is an effective treatment available. In order to facilitate drug discovery to treat post-concussive symptoms (PCSs), there is a need to determine if animal models of repeated mild closed head injury (mCHI) can mimic the neurocognitive and histopathological consequences of repeated concussions. To this end, we employed a controlled cortical impact (CCI) device to deliver a mCHI directly to the skull of mice daily for 4 days, and examined the ensuing neurological and neurocognitive functions using beam balance, foot-fault, an abbreviated Morris water maze test, context discrimination, and active place avoidance tasks. Repeated mCHI exacerbated vestibulomotor, motor, short-term memory and conflict learning impairments as compared to a single mCHI. Learning and memory impairments were still observed in repeated mCHI mice when tested 3 months post-injury. Repeated mCHI also reduced cerebral perfusion, prolonged the inflammatory response, and in some animals, caused hippocampal neuronal loss. Our results show that repeated mCHI can reproduce some of the deficits seen after repeated concussions in humans and may be suitable for drug discovery studies and translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Hylin
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas 77225, USA
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Bigler ED. Neuroimaging biomarkers in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Neuropsychol Rev 2013; 23:169-209. [PMID: 23974873 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-013-9237-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Reviewed herein are contemporary neuroimaging methods that detect abnormalities associated with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Despite advances in demonstrating underlying neuropathology in a subset of individuals who sustain mTBI, considerable disagreement persists in neuropsychology about mTBI outcome and metrics for evaluation. This review outlines a thesis for the select use of sensitive neuroimaging methods as potential biomarkers of brain injury recognizing that the majority of individuals who sustain an mTBI recover without neuroimaging signs or neuropsychological sequelae detected with methods currently applied. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides several measures that could serve as mTBI biomarkers including the detection of hemosiderin and white matter abnormalities, assessment of white matter integrity derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and quantitative measures that directly assess neuroanatomy. Improved prediction of neuropsychological outcomes in mTBI may be achieved with the use of targeted neuroimaging markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin D Bigler
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1001 SWKT, Provo, UT 84602, USA.
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Bigler ED. Traumatic brain injury, neuroimaging, and neurodegeneration. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:395. [PMID: 23964217 PMCID: PMC3734373 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2012] [Accepted: 07/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Depending on severity, traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces immediate neuropathological effects that in the mildest form may be transient but as severity increases results in neural damage and degeneration. The first phase of neural degeneration is explainable by the primary acute and secondary neuropathological effects initiated by the injury; however, neuroimaging studies demonstrate a prolonged period of pathological changes that progressively occur even during the chronic phase. This review examines how neuroimaging may be used in TBI to understand (1) the dynamic changes that occur in brain development relevant to understanding the effects of TBI and how these relate to developmental stage when the brain is injured, (2) how TBI interferes with age-typical brain development and the effects of aging thereafter, and (3) how TBI results in greater frontotemporolimbic damage, results in cerebral atrophy, and is more disruptive to white matter neural connectivity. Neuroimaging quantification in TBI demonstrates degenerative effects from brain injury over time. An adverse synergistic influence of TBI with aging may predispose the brain injured individual for the development of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders long after surviving the brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin D Bigler
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University Provo, UT, USA ; Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University Provo, UT, USA ; Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT, USA ; The Brain Institute of Utah, University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Shear DA, Tortella FC. A military-centered approach to neuroprotection for traumatic brain injury. Front Neurol 2013; 4:73. [PMID: 23781213 PMCID: PMC3679469 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2013.00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 05/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies in animals show that many compounds and therapeutics have the potential to greatly reduce the morbidity and post-injury clinical sequela for soldiers experiencing TBI. However, to date there are no FDA approved drugs for the treatment of TBI. In fact, expert opinion suggests that combination therapies will be necessary to treat any stage of TBI recovery. Our approach to this research effort is to conduct comprehensive pre-clinical neuroprotection studies in military-relevant animal models of TBI using the most promising neuroprotective agents. In addition, emerging efforts incorporating novel treatment strategies such as stem cell based therapies and alternative therapeutic approaches will be discussed. The development of a non-surgical, non-invasive brain injury therapeutic clearly addresses a major, unresolved medical problem for the Combat Casualty Care Research Program. Since drug discovery is too expensive to be pursued by DOD in the TBI arena, this effort capitalizes on partnerships with the Private Sector (Pharmaceutical Companies) and academic collaborations (Operation Brain Trauma Therapy Consortium) to study therapies already under advanced development. Candidate therapies selected for research include drugs that are aimed at reducing the acute and delayed effects of the traumatic incident, stem cell therapies aimed at brain repair, and selective brain cooling to stabilize cerebral metabolism. Each of these efforts can also focus on combination therapies targeting multiple mechanisms of neuronal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A. Shear
- Branch of Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Frank C. Tortella
- Branch of Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Longitudinal assessment of gait abnormalities following penetrating ballistic-like brain injury in rats. J Neurosci Methods 2013; 212:1-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2012.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 08/28/2012] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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