Mechanisms of Blast Induced Brain Injuries, Experimental Studies in Rats.
Journal article, 2011

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) potentially induced by blast waves from detonations result in significant diagnostic problems. It may be assumed that several mechanisms contribute to the injury. This study is an attempt to characterize the presumed components of the blast induced TBI. Our experimental models include a blast tube in which an anesthetized rat can be exposed to controlled detonations of explosives that result in a pressure wave with a magnitude between 130 and 260 kPa. In this model, the animal is fixed with a metal net to avoid head acceleration forces. The second model is a controlled penetration of a 2 mm thick needle. In the third model the animal is subjected to a high-speed sagittal rotation angular acceleration. Immunohistochemical labeling for amyloid precursor protein revealed signs of diffuse axonal injury (DAI) in the penetration and rotation models. Signs of punctuate inflammation were observed after focal and rotation injury. Exposure in the blast tube did not induce DAI or detectable cell death, but functional changes. Affymetrix Gene arrays showed changes in the expression in a large number of gene families including cell death, inflammation and neurotransmitters in the hippocampus after both acceleration and penetration injuries. Exposure to the primary blast wave induced limited shifts in gene expression in the hippocampus. The most interesting findings were a downregulation of genes involved in neurogenesis and synaptic transmission. These experiments indicate that rotational acceleration may be a critical factor for DAI and other acute changes after blast TBI. The further exploration of the mechanisms of blast TBI will have to include a search for long-term effects.

Brain trauma

Author

Mårten Risling

Karolinska Institutet

Stefan Plantman

Karolinska Institutet

Maria Angeria

Karolinska Institutet

Elham Rostami

Karolinska Institutet

Bo Mikael Bellander

Karolinska University Hospital

M Kirkegaard

Karolinska Institutet

Ulf Arborelius

Karolinska Institutet

Johan Davidsson

Chalmers, Applied Mechanics, Vehicle Safety

Chalmers, Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers (SAFER)

NeuroImage

1053-8119 (ISSN) 1095-9572 (eISSN)

Vol. 54S1 2011/Epub 2010 54 suplement 1 S89-S97

Subject Categories

Mechanical Engineering

Physiology

Areas of Advance

Transport

Roots

Basic sciences

DOI

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.05.031

More information

Latest update

2/21/2018