Modified experimental mild traumatic brain injury model.
BACKGROUND
Experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI), using a variety of techniques and species, have been devised with the aim of producing repeatable lesions resembling those found in head injuries. There are various TBI models mentioned in the literature. In experimental head trauma models, emphasis has been placed on the severe head injuries. There are only a few models developed to study mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). In fact, MTBI is as important a problem as severe head injuries for neurosurgeons.


METHODS
Fifty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to MTBI with a weight-drop device, which was described by Marmarou et al. The said model was used in its original form as well as in modified forms by employing different weights dropped from the same height. Animals were divided into four groups of 14 rats as follows: Group I (n=14), head injury was induced using 450 g-1 m weight-height impact; Group II (n=14), head injury was induced using 350 g-l m weight-height impact; Group III (n=14), head injury was induced using 300 g-1 m weight-height impact; Group IV (n=14), control group, no injury was applied. Animals were evaluated neurologically, physiologically, electrophysiologically, and histopathologically.


RESULTS
Group I and II animals (450 and 350 g-1m weight-height impact, respectively) showed the symptoms of severe head injury, whereas Group III animals (300 g-l m) showed more MTBI symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend the application of the modified MTBI model used for group III (300 g-l m weight-height impact) as the most appropriate and the simplest model for future MTBI studies.
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Akdeniz, School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. tucar@akdeniz.edu.tr
Tanju
T
Ucar
Gamze
G
Tanriover
Inanc
I
Gurer
M Zulkuf
MZ
Onal
Saim
S
Kazan
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004569:Electroencephalography; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020206:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Traumatic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology