Cytidinediphosphocholine treatment to decrease traumatic brain injury—induced hippocampal neuronal death, cortical contusion volume, and neurological dysfunction in rats

2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 867-873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Dempsey ◽  
Vemuganti L. Raghavendra Rao
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Neuronal Death ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Neurological Dysfunction ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Edema Formation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cortical Contusion ◽  
Fine Print

Object. In previous studies at their laboratory the authors showed that cytidinediphosphocholine (CDP-choline), an intermediate of phosphatidylcholine synthesis, decreases edema formation and blood—brain barrier disruption following traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the present study the authors investigate whether CDP-choline protects hippocampal neurons after controlled cortical impact (CCI)—induced TBI in adult rats. Methods. After adult male Sprague—Dawley rats had been anesthetized with halothane, a moderate-grade TBI was induced with the aid of a CCI device set at a velocity of 3 m/second, creating a 2-mm deformation. Sham-operated rats, which underwent craniectomy without impact served as controls. The CDP-choline (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight) or saline was injected into the animals twice (once immediately postinjury and once 6 hours postinjury). Seven days after the injury, the rats were neurologically evaluated and killed, and the number of hippocampal neurons was estimated by examining thionine-stained brain sections. By 7 days postinjury, there was a significant amount of neuronal death in the ipsilateral hippocampus in the CA2 (by 53 ± 7%, p < 0.05) and CA3 (by 59 ± 9%, p < 0.05) regions and a contusion (volume 34 ± 8 mm3) in the ipsilateral cortex compared with sham-operated control animals. Rats subjected to TBI also displayed severe neurological deficit at 7 days postinjury. Treating rats with CDP-choline (200 and 400 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) significantly prevented TBI-induced neuronal loss in the hippocampus, decreased cortical contusion volume, and improved neurological recovery. Conclusions. Treatment with CDP-choline decreased brain damage following TBI.

Intracranial bone marrow transplantation after traumatic brain injury improving functional outcome in adult rats

2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asim Mahmood ◽  
Dunyue Lu ◽  
Yi Li ◽  
Jae Li Chen ◽  
Michael Chopp
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein ◽  
Protein Markers ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The authors tested the hypothesis that intracranial bone marrow (BM) transplantation after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats provides therapeutic benefit. Methods. Sixty-six adult Wistar rats, weighing 275 to 350 g each, were used for the experiment. Bone marrow prelabeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was harvested from tibias and femurs of healthy adult rats. Other animals were subjected to controlled cortical impact, and BM was injected adjacent to the contusion 24 hours after the impact. The animals were killed at 4, 7, 14, or 28 days after transplantation. Motor function was evaluated both before and after the injury by using the rotarod test. After the animals had been killed, brain sections were examined using hemotoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining methods. Histological examination revealed that, after transplantation, BM cells survived, proliferated, and migrated toward the injury site. Some of the BrdU-labeled BM cells were reactive, with astrocytic (glial fibrillary acid protein) and neuronal (NeuN and microtubule-associated protein) markers. Transplanted BM expressed proteins phenotypical of intrinsic brain cells, that is, neurons and astrocytes. A statistically significant improvement in motor function in rats that underwent BM transplantation, compared with control rats, was detected at 14 and 28 days posttransplantation. Conclusions. On the basis of their findings, the authors assert that BM transplantation improves neurological outcome and that BM cells survive and express nerve cell proteins after TBI.

Platelet-activating factor and progressive brain damage following focal brain injury

1990 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai U. Frerichs ◽  
Perttu J. Lindsberg ◽  
John M. Hallenbeck ◽  
Giora Z. Feuerstein
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Damage ◽  
Neuronal Death ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
Platelet Activating Factor ◽  
Secondary Brain Damage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Focal Brain Injury ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The effects of a platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist on brain edema, cortical microcirculation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, and neuronal death following focal brain injury are reported. A neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser was used to induce highly reproducible focal cortical lesions in anesthetized rats. Secondary brain damage in this model was characterized by progressive cortical hypoperfusion, edema, and BBB disruption in the vicinity of the hemispheroid lesion occurring acutely after injury. The histopathological evolution was followed for up to 4 days. Neuronal damage in the cortex and the hippocampus (CA-1) was assessed quantitatively, revealing secondary and progressive loss of neuronal tissue within the first 24 hours following injury. Pretreatment with the PAF antagonist BN 50739 ameliorated the severe hypoperfusion in 12 rats (increasing local cerebral blood flow from a mean ± standard error of the mean of 40.5% ± 8.3% to 80.2% ± 7.8%, p < 0.01) and reduced edema by 70% in 10 rats (p < 0.05) acutely after injury. The PAF antagonist also reduced the progression of neuronal damage in the cortex and the CA-1 hippocampal neurons (decrease of neuronal death from 88.0% ± 3.9% to 49.8% ± 4.2% at 24 hours in the cortex and from 40.2 ± 5.0% to 13.2% ± 2.1% in the hippocampus in 30 rats; p < 0.05). This study provides evidence to support progressive brain damage following focal brain injury, associated with secondary loss of neuronal cells. In this latter process, PAF antagonists may provide significant therapeutic protection in arresting secondary brain damage following cerebral ischemia and neurological trauma.

Stilbazulenyl nitrone, a novel azulenyl nitrone antioxidant, improved neurological deficit and reduced contusion size after traumatic brain injury in rats

2002 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 1077-1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludmila Belayev ◽  
David A. Becker ◽  
Ofelia F. Alonso ◽  
Yitao Liu ◽  
Raul Busto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Temperature ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fluid Percussion ◽  
Cortical Contusion ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Stilbazulenyl nitrone (STAZN) is a second-generation azulenyl nitrone that has markedly enhanced antioxidant properties compared with those of conventional alpha-phenyl nitrones. In this study, the authors assessed the potential efficacy of STAZN in a rodent model of fluid-percussion brain injury, which results in a consistent cortical contusion. Methods. After anesthesia had been induced in normothermic Sprague—Dawley rats (brain temperature 36–36.5°C) by halothane—nitrous oxide, the animals were subjected to a right parietooccipital parasagittal fluid-percussion injury (1.5–2 atm). The agent (STAZN, 30 mg/kg; eight animals) or vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide; eight animals) was administered intraperitoneally at 5 minutes and 4 hours after trauma. The neurological status of each rat was evaluated on Days 1, 2, and 7 postinjury (normal score 0, maximum injury 12). Seven days after trauma, the rat brains were perfusion fixed, coronal sections at various levels were digitized, and areas of contusion were measured. Treatment with STAZN significantly improved neurological scores on Days 2 and 7 postinjury compared with vehicle-treated rats. Administration of STAZN also significantly reduced the total contusion area by 63% (1.8 ± 0.5 mm2 in STAZN-treated animals compared with 4.8 ± 2.1 mm2 in vehicle-treated animals; p = 0.04) and the deep cortical contusion area by 60% (1.2 ± 0.2 mm2 in STAZN-treated animals compared with 2.9 ± 1.2 mm2 in vehicle-treated animals; p = 0.03). By contrast, hippocampal cell loss in the CA3 sector was unaffected by STAZN treatment. Conclusions. Therapy with STAZN, a novel potent antioxidant, administered following traumatic brain injury, markedly improves neurological and histological outcomes. Azulenyl nitrones appear to represent a promising class of neuroprotective agents for combating this devastating condition.

Regulation of aquaporin-4 in a traumatic brain injury model in rats

2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Chieh Sun ◽  
Christopher R. Honey ◽  
Caglar Berk ◽  
Norman L. M. Wong ◽  
Joseph K. C. Tsui
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Parietal Cortex ◽  
Occipital Cortex ◽  
Aquaporin 4 ◽  
Frontal Pole ◽  
Injury Site ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cortical Contusion ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) plays a significant role in the regulation of brain water homeostasis. In this study the authors investigated the regulation of AQP4 following a focal cortical contusion injury in rats. Methods. Thirty-three adult male Wistar rats received a focal cortical contusion of the parietal cortex. An additional nine rats underwent a craniectomy, but no trauma was inflicted (sham injury). Animals were killed 1, 4, and 24 hours later. The rat brains were examined for water content by comparing the wet and dry weights of each hemisphere. Aquaporin-4 messenger (m)RNA was measured by reverse transcription—polymerase chain reaction. A ratio of AQP4 mRNA expression in the lesioned hemisphere compared with that in the contralateral control hemisphere was calculated for each animal at the injury site (parietal cortex) and at sites adjacent to (occipital cortex) and distant from the injury (frontal pole cortex). Brain edema was significantly increased at the injury site. The expression of AQP4 mRNA was significantly increased at the injury site, significantly decreased adjacent to the injury site, and not significantly different at a site distant from the injury. The magnitude of AQP4 mRNA upregulation at the injured parietal cortex correlated with the degree of downregulation in the adjacent occipital cortex. Conclusions. Data from this study demonstrate that an upregulation of AQP4 occurs at the site of traumatic brain injury and that a downregulation of this molecule occurs adjacent to the site of injury. Understanding the physiology of AQP4 and its regulation following brain injury may allow for the development of novel treatments for cerebral edema that accompanies head injury.

Proliferation, migration, and differentiation of human neural stem/progenitor cells after transplantation into a rat model of traumatic brain injury

2004 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Wennersten ◽  
Xia Meijer ◽  
Staffan Holmin ◽  
Lars Wahlberg ◽  
Tiit Mathiesen
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Corpus Callosum ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Adult Brain ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Double Labeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Neural Stem Progenitor Cells ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Cultures containing human neural stem and progenitor cells (neurospheres) have the capacity to proliferate and differentiate into the major phenotypes of the adult brain. These properties make them candidates for therapeutic transplantation in cases of neurological diseases that involve cell loss. In this study, long-term cultured and cryopreserved cells were transplanted into the traumatically injured rat brain to evaluate the potential for human neural stem/progenitor cells to survive and differentiate following traumatic injury. Methods. Neural stem/progenitor cell cultures were established from 10-week-old human forebrain. Immunosuppressed adult rats received a unilateral parietal cortical contusion injury, which was delivered using the weight-drop method. Immediately following the injury, these animals received transplants of neural stem/progenitor cells, which were placed close to the site of injury. Two or 6 weeks after the procedure, these animals were killed and their brains were examined by immunohistochemical analysis. At both 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively, the transplanted human cells were found in the perilesional zone, hippocampus, corpus callosum, and ipsilateral subependymal zone of the rats. Compared with the 2-week time point, an increased number of HuN-positive cells was observed at 6 weeks. In addition, at 6 weeks post—injury/transplantation, the cells were noted to cross the midline to the contralateral corpus callosum and into the contralateral cortex. Double labeling demonstrated neuronal and astrocytic, but not oligodendrocytic differentiation. Moreover, the cortex appeared to provide an environment that was less hospitable to neuronal differentiation than the hippocampus. Conclusions. This study shows that expandable human neural stem/progenitor cells survive transplantation, and migrate, differentiate, and proliferate in the injured brain. These cells could potentially be developed for transplantation therapy in cases of traumatic brain injury.

Flushing in relation to a possible rise in intracranial pressure: documentation of an unusual clinical sign

2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 1040-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory W. Hornig
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Intraventricular Hemorrhage ◽  
Pneumococcal Meningitis ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Neurological Deterioration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transient Nature ◽  
Fine Print

✓ This report documents clinical features in five children who developed transient reddening of the skin (epidermal flushing) in association with acute elevations in intracranial pressure (ICP). Four boys and one girl (ages 9–15 years) deteriorated acutely secondary to intracranial hypertension ranging from 30 to 80 mm Hg in the four documented cases. Two patients suffered from ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunctions, one had diffuse cerebral edema secondary to traumatic brain injury, one was found to have pneumococcal meningitis and hydrocephalus, and one suffered an intraventricular hemorrhage and hydrocephalus intraoperatively. All patients were noted to have developed epidermal flushing involving either the upper chest, face, or arms during their period of neurological deterioration. The response was transient, typically lasting 5 to 15 minutes, and dissipated quickly. The flushing reaction is postulated to be a centrally mediated response to sudden elevations in ICP. Several potential mechanisms are discussed. Flushing has clinical importance because it may indicate significant elevations in ICP when it is associated with neurological deterioration. Because of its transient nature, the importance of epidermal flushing is often unrecognized; its presence confirms the need for urgent treatment.

scholarly journals A combination antioxidant therapy to inhibit NOX2 and activate Nrf2 decreases secondary brain damage and improves functional recovery after traumatic brain injury

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 1818-1827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghavendar Chandran ◽  
TaeHee Kim ◽  
Suresh L Mehta ◽  
Eshwar Udho ◽  
Vishal Chanana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Neurological Dysfunction ◽  
Vehicle Group ◽  
Lesion Volume ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Cortical Contusion ◽  
Nrf2 Activator

Uncontrolled oxidative stress contributes to the secondary neuronal death that promotes long-term neurological dysfunction following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Surprisingly, both NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) that increases and transcription factor Nrf2 that decreases reactive oxygen species (ROS) are induced after TBI. As the post-injury functional outcome depends on the balance of these opposing molecular pathways, we evaluated the effect of TBI on the motor and cognitive deficits and cortical contusion volume in NOX2 and Nrf2 knockout mice. Genetic deletion of NOX2 improved, while Nrf2 worsened the post-TBI motor function recovery and lesion volume indicating that decreasing ROS levels might be beneficial after TBI. Treatment with either apocynin (NOX2 inhibitor) or TBHQ (Nrf2 activator) alone significantly improved the motor function after TBI, but had no effect on the lesion volume, compared to vehicle control. Whereas, the combo therapy (apocynin + TBHQ) given at either 5 min/24 h or 2 h/24 h improved motor and cognitive function and decreased cortical contusion volume compared to vehicle group. Thus, both the generation and disposal of ROS are important modulators of oxidative stress, and a combo therapy that prevents ROS formation and potentiates ROS disposal concurrently is efficacious after TBI.

Cerebral tissue PO2 and SjvO2 changes during moderate hyperventilation in patients with severe traumatic brain injury

2002 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Imberti ◽  
Guido Bellinzona ◽  
Martin Langer
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Cerebral Perfusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Damage ◽  
Tissue Po2 ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate hyperventilation on intracranial pressure (ICP), jugular venous oxygen saturation ([SjvO2], an index of global cerebral perfusion), and brain tissue PO2 (an index of local cerebral perfusion). Methods. Ninety-four tests consisting of 20-minute periods of moderate hyperventilation (27–32 mm Hg) were performed on different days in 36 patients with severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 8). Moderate hyperventilation resulted in a significant reduction in average ICP, but in seven tests performed in five patients it was ineffective. The response of SjvO2 and brain tissue PO2 to CO2 changes was widely variable and unpredictable. After 20 minutes of moderate hyperventilation in most tests (79.8%), both SjvO2 and brain tissue PO2 values remained above the lower limits of normality (50% and 10 mm Hg, respectively). In contrast, in 15 tests performed in six patients (16.6% of the studied population) brain tissue PO2 decreased below 10 mm Hg although the corresponding SjvO2 values were greater than 50%. The reduction of brain tissue PO2 below 10 mm Hg was favored by the low prehyperventilation values (10 tests), higher CO2 reactivity, and, possibly, by lower prehyperventilation values of cerebral perfusion pressure. In five of those 15 tests, the prehyperventilation values of SjvO2 were greater than 70%, a condition of relative hyperemia. The SjvO2 decreased below 50% in four tests; the corresponding brain tissue PO2 values were less than 10 mm Hg in three of those tests, whereas in the fourth, the jugular venous O2 desaturation was not detected by brain tissue PO2. The analysis of the simultaneous relative changes (prehyperventilation — posthyperventilation) of SjvO2 and brain tissue PO2 showed that in most tests (75.5%) there was a reduction of both SjvO2 and brain tissue PO2. In two tests moderate hyperventilation resulted in an increase of both SjvO2 and brain tissue PO2. In the remaining 17 tests a redistribution of the cerebral blood flow was observed, leading to changes in SjvO2 and brain tissue PO2 in opposite directions. Conclusions. Hyperventilation, even if moderate, can frequently result in harmful local reductions of cerebral perfusion that cannot be detected by assessing SjvO2. Therefore, hyperventilation should be used with caution and should not be considered safe. This study confirms that SjvO2 and brain tissue PO2 are two parameters that provide complementary information on brain oxygenation that is useful to reduce the risk of secondary damage. Changes in SjvO2 and brain tissue PO2 in opposite directions indicate that data obtained from brain tissue PO2 monitoring cannot be extrapolated to evaluate the global cerebral perfusion.

Activation of the complement cascade and increase of clusterin in the brain following a cortical contusion in the adult rat

1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 468-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo-Michael Bellander ◽  
Hans von Holst ◽  
Pam Fredman ◽  
Mikael Svensson
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Injury ◽  
Complement Cascade ◽  
Complement Factor ◽  
Survival Times ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Junction Protein ◽  
Cortical Contusion ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The aim of the present study was to examine the glial cell response and the possible involvement of the complement cascade following a cerebral cortical contusion. The lesion was produced using a standardized weight-drop technique in adult rats. The blood-brain barrier was damaged, as demonstrated by a decrease of immunoreactivity for a tight junction protein normally expressed by endothelial cells of small vessels in the central nervous system. Increased immunoreactivity for microglial (OX42) and astroglial cells (glial fibrillary acidic protein), as well as macrophages expressing ED1-immunoreactivity (IR) were found in the vicinity of the lesion at all postoperative survival times (2–14 days). In the present study complement factor C3d- and C9-IR was found around the lesion, indicating that activation of the complement cascade had taken place. Furthermore, immunoreactivity for the putative complement inhibitor clusterin (sulfated glycoprotein-2) was found in some of the injured neurons. The contralateral hemisphere showed no evidence of the reaction found in the ipsilateral hemisphere. The balance between complement activation and complement inhibitors may have an impact on the degenerative components in the brain following traumatic injury and in particular on the events leading to nerve cell death.

Early and persistent impaired percent alpha variability on continuous electroencephalography monitoring as predictive of poor outcome after traumatic brain injury

2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Vespa ◽  
W. John Boscardin ◽  
David A. Hovda ◽  
David L. McArthur ◽  
Marc R. Nuwer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Eeg Monitoring ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Poor Outcome ◽  
Continuous Electroencephalography ◽  
Continuous Eeg ◽  
Continuous Eeg Monitoring ◽  
Severe Tbi ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Early prediction of outcomes in patients after they suffer traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often nonspecific and based on initial imaging and clinical findings alone, without direct physiological testing. Improved outcome prediction is desirable for ethical, social, and financial reasons. The goal of this study was to determine the usefulness of continuous electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring in determining prognosis early after TBI, while the patient is in the intensive care unit. Methods. The authors hypothesized that the reduced percentage of alpha variability (PAV) in continuous EEG tracings indicates a poor prognosis. Prospective continuous EEG monitoring was performed in 89 consecutive patients with moderate to severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] Scores 3–12) from 0 to 10 days after injury. The PAV was calculated daily, and the time course and trends of the PAV were analyzed in comparison with the patient's Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at the time of discharge. In patients with GCS scores of 8 or lower, a PAV value of 0.1 or lower is highly predictive of a poor outcome or death (positive predictive value 86%). The determinant PAV value was obtained by Day 3 after injury. Persistent PAV values of 0.1 or lower over several days or worsening of the PAV to a value of 0.1 or lower indicated a high likelihood of poor outcome (GOS Scores 1 and 2). In comparison with the combination of traditional initial clinical indicators of outcome (GCS score, pupillary response to light, patient age, results of computerized tomography scanning, and early hypotension or hypoxemia), the early PAV value during the initial 3 days after injury independently improved prognostic ability (p < 0.01). Conclusions. Continuous EEG monitoring performed with particular attention paid to the PAV is a sensitive and specific method of prognosis that can indicate outcomes in patients with moderate to severe TBI within 3 days postinjury.

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