low-level laser therapy applied transcranially to mice following traumatic brain injury significantly reduces long-term neurological deficits.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been evaluated in this study as a potential therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI). LLLT has been found to modulate various biological processes. Following TBI in mice, we assessed the hypothesis that LLLT might have a beneficial effect on their neurobehavioral and histological outcome. TBI was induced by a weight-drop device, and motor function was assessed 1 h post-trauma using a neurological severity score (NSS). Mice were then divided into three groups of eight mice each: one control group that received a sham LLLT procedure and was not irradiated; and two groups that received LLLT at two different doses (10 and 20 mW/cm(2) ) transcranially. An 808-nm Ga-As diode laser was employed transcranially 4 h post-trauma to illuminate the entire cortex of the brain. Motor function was assessed up to 4 weeks, and lesion volume was measured. There were no significant changes in NSS at 24 and 48 h between the laser-treated and non-treated mice. Yet, from 5 days and up to 28 days, the NSS of the laser-treated mice were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the traumatized control mice that were not treated with the laser. The lesion volume of the laser treated mice was significantly lower (1.4%) than the non-treated group (12.1%). Our data suggest that a non-invasive transcranial application of LLLT given 4 h following TBI provides a significant long-term functional neurological benefit. Further confirmatory trials are warranted.
Oron
Amir
A
Department of Orthopedics, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. amiroronmd@gmail.com
Oron
Uri
U
Streeter
Jackson
J
de Taboada
Luis
L
Alexandrovich
Alexander
A
Trembovler
Victoria
V
Shohami
Esther
E
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology