A novel apparatus for lateral fluid percussion injury in the rat.
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.
Frey
Lauren C
LC
Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver, and Colorado Injury Control Research Center, United States. lauren.frey@uchsc.edu
Hellier
Jennifer
J
Unkart
Cheri
C
Lepkin
Aaron
A
Howard
Allyson
A
Hasebroock
Kendra
K
Serkova
Natalie
N
Liang
Liping
L
Patel
Manisha
M
Soltesz
Ivan
I
Staley
Kevin
K
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