title: Unilateral cortical contusion injury in the rat: vascular disruption and temporal development of cortical necrosis.
abstract: Cerebrovascular disruption and cortical pathology resulting from either moderate (M-TBI) or severe (S-TBI) traumatic brain injury produced by a pneumatically-driven cortical contusion device were assessed in adult male rats sacrificed at 6 and 24 h or 8 and 30 days after injury to the right sensorimotor cortex. Epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, petechial (cortex and corpus callosum), and/or intraventricular hemorrhage was present in all animals, more extensively and severely following S-TBI. At 6 or 24 h after TBI, acidophilic (acid fuchsin-positive) neurons were numerous and widespread (S-TBI > M-TBI) in the ipsilateral contused cortex. By 8 days few acidophilic neurons were present in peri-impact regions of the ipsilateral neocortex, and none were detected in cortex 30 days postinjury. Both M-TBI and S-TBI groups had enlarged ipsilateral cortical volumes (edema) at 6 and 24 h post-contusion. Eight and 30 days after injury the mean volume of cortical necrosis was significantly larger in S-TBI than in M-TBI rats, and cortical necrosis in both TBI conditions increased between 8 to 30 days postinjury. These results indicate that this pneumatically-driven contusion device produces reliable and consistent primary and secondary cortical histopathology, the extent of which is related to the severity of initial injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hennepin County Medical Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lescaudron
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques