title: Experimental closed head injury in rats: mechanical, pathophysiologic, and neurologic properties.
abstract: A model of closed head injury in rats was developed using a calibrated weight-drop device. The development of edema was studied in various brain regions (cerebral hemispheres, brain stem, cerebellum) using a linear specific gravity gradient column. Regional brain tissue density was measured within 1 min, at 15 and 60 min, 18 h, 4 and 10 days after injury to the left cerebral hemisphere, and was compared with values in sham-operated and control rats. Significant edema (i.e., reduced specific gravity) occurred only in the traumatized hemisphere and was maximal at 18 h. A neurologic severity score (NSS) was developed to evaluate the status of the rat after injury. Specific gravity was significantly correlated with NSS at 18 h after injury. The affected hemisphere displayed hemorrhagic lesions as early as one hour post head trauma (HT), which evolved into hemorrhagic necrosis at 18 h. A pathologic score, evaluated 18 h post HT based on size and severity of the lesion, was correlated with the NSS and evaluated for each rat at one hour and 18 h postimpact. This correlation was found to be highly significant. This model of brain injury may be useful in future studies on the effects of therapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shohami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sidi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soffer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cotev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013046:Specific Gravity; D013997:Time Factors; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology