Neuroinflammation in primary blast neurotrauma: Time course and prevention by torso shielding.

In this study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of microglial activation in the brain of mice exposed to mild-moderate blast in a shock tube. Because, in our previous work, we had found that torso shielding with rigid Plexiglas attenuates traumatic axonal injury in the brain, we also evaluated neuroinflammatory microglial responses in animals with torso protection at 7days post blast injury. Because of the prominent involvement of the visual system in blast TBI in rodents, activated microglial cells were counted in the optic tract at various time points post-injury with stereological methods. Cell counts (activated microglial cell densities) from subjects exposed to blast TBI were compared with counts from corresponding sham animals. We found that mild-moderate blast injury causes focal activation of microglia in certain white matter tracts, including the visual pathway. In the optic tract, the density of activated microglial profiles gradually intensified from 3 to 15days post-injury and then became attenuated at 30days. Torso protection significantly reduced microglial activation at 7days. These findings shed light into mechanisms of primary blast neurotrauma and may suggest novel diagnostic and monitoring methods for patients. They leave open the question of whether microglial activation post blast is protective or detrimental, although response is time limited. Finally, our findings confirm the protective role of torso shielding and stress the importance of improved ...

Source: Experimental Neurology - January 16, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Xu L, Schaefer ML, Linville RM, Aggarwal A, Mbuguiro W, Wester BA, Koliatsos VE Tags: Exp Neurol Source Type: research