title: Development of a rat model for studying blast-induced traumatic brain injury.
abstract: Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been the predominant cause of neurotrauma in current military conflicts, and it is also emerging as a potential threat in civilian terrorism. The etiology of TBI, however, is poorly understood. Further study on the mechanisms and treatment of blast injury is urgently needed. We developed a unique rat model to simulate blast effects that commonly occur on the battlefield. An electric detonator with the equivalent of 400 mg TNT was developed as the explosive source. The detonator's peak overpressure and impulse of explosion shock determined the explosion intensity in a distance-dependent manner. Ninety-six male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: 5-cm, 7.5-cm, 10-cm, and control groups. The rat was fixed in a specially designed cabin with an adjustable aperture showing the frontal, parietal, and occipital parts of the head exposed to explosion; the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose were protected by the cabin. After each explosion, we assessed the physiologic, neuropathologic, and neurobehavioral consequences of blast injury. Changes of brain tissue water content and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) expression were detected. The results in the 7.5-cm group show that 87% rats developed apnea, limb seizure, poor appetite, and limpness. Diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage and edema could be seen within the brain parenchyma, which showed a loss of integrity. Capillary damage and enlarged intercellular and vascular space in the cortex, along with a tattered nerve fiber were observed. These findings demonstrate that we have provided a reliable and reproducible blast-induced TBI model in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of People's Liberation Army Chengdu Military Region, Chengdu, Sichuan 610083, China. doctor_cjm@163.com
authors.forename: Jingmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jianwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yongqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Bingcang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001049:Apnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004581:Electronics; D004867:Equipment Design; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011312:Pressure; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase