Study on cognition disorder and morphologic change of neurons in hippocampus area following traumatic brain injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the correlation between cognition disorder and morphologic change of hippocampal neurons after traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Wistar rat models with severe TBI were made by Marmarou's method. The histopathological change of the neurons in the hippocampus area were studied with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated X-dUPT nick end labeling (TUNEL), respectively. The cognitive function was evaluated with the Morris water maze test.


RESULTS
The comprehensive neuronal degeneration and necrosis could be observed in CA2-3 regions of hippocampus at 3 days after injury. Apoptotic positive neurons in CA2-4 regions of hippocampus and dentate gyrus increased in the injured group at 24 hours following TBI. They peaked at 7 days and then declined. Significant impairment of spatial learning and memory was observed after injury in the rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The rats have obvious disorders in spatial learning and memory after severe TBI. Meanwhile, delayed neuronal necrosis and apoptosis can be observed in the neurons in the hippocampus area. It suggests that delay ed hippocampal cell death may contribute to the functional deficit.
Hong
Jun
J
Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Tangshan Workers Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Tangshan 063000, China. laj571@sohu.com
Cui
Jianzhong
J
Zhou
Yuntao
Y
Gao
Junling
J
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar