title: A novel apparatus for lateral fluid percussion injury in the rat.
abstract: Lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI) is the most commonly used experimental model of human traumatic brain injury (TBI). To date, investigators using this model have produced injury using a pendulum-and-piston-based device (PPBD) to drive fluid against an intact dural surface. Two disadvantages of this method, however, are (1) the necessary reliance on operator skill to position and release the pendulum, and (2) reductions in reproducibility due to variable friction between the piston's o-rings and the cylinder. To counteract these disadvantages, we designed a low-priced, novel, fluid percussion apparatus that delivers a pressure pulse of air to a standing column of fluid, forcing it against the intact dural surface. The pressure waveforms generated by this apparatus are similar to those reported in the LFPI/PPBD literature and had little variation in appearance between trials. In addition, our apparatus produced an acute and chronic TBI syndrome similar to that in the LFPI/PPBD literature, as quantified by histological changes, MRI structural changes and chronic behavioral sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver, and Colorado Injury Control Research Center, United States. lauren.frey@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Lauren C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hellier
authors.forename: Cheri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Unkart
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lepkin
authors.forename: Allyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Kendra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasebroock
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Serkova
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soltesz
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Staley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010474:Percussion / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013523:Surgical Equipment