A new model of repeat mTBI in adolescent rats.

A new model of repeat mTBI in adolescent rats. Exp Neurol. 2020 May 19;:113360 Authors: Ondek K, Brevnova O, Jimenez-Ornelas C, Vergara A, Zwienenberg M, Gurkoff G Abstract Sports-related injury is frequently associated with repeated diffuse and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). We combined two existing models for inducing TBI in rats, the Impact Acceleration and Controlled Cortical Impact models, to create a new method relevant to the study of cognitive sequelae of repeat mTBI in adolescent athletes. Repeated mTBI, such as those incurred in sports, can result in a wide range of outcomes, with many individuals experiencing no chronic sequela while others develop profound cognitive and behavioral impairments, typically in the absence of lasting motor symptoms or gross tissue loss appreciable antemortem. It is critical to develop models of mTBI and repeat mTBI that have the flexibility to assess multiple parameters related to injury (e.g. number and magnitude of impacts, inter-injury interval, etc) that are associated with brain vulnerability compared to normal recovery. We designed a 3D-printed plastic implant to permanently secure a metal disc to the skull of adolescent rats in order to induce multiple injuries without performing multiple survival surgeries and also to minimize pre-injury anesthesia time. Rats were randomly assigned to sham injury (n = 12), single injury (n = 12; injury on P41), or repeat injury (n = 14...
Source: Experimental Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Exp Neurol Source Type: research