Sex-specific interneuron vulnerability after traumatic brain injury correlates with neurotrophic signaling and chloride homeostasis, independent of behavioral and network outcomes.

ABSTRACT: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to persistent cognitive and emotional impairments, and growing evidence suggests that sex influences vulnerability through differences in neurotrophic signaling and chloride homeostasis. To investigate these mechanisms, we induced moderate TBI in male and female mice using the controlled cortical impact model and assessed outcomes 30 days post-injury. Behavioral performance was evaluated with the open field, elevated plus maze, and Barnes maze, while hippocampal oscillations, interneuron survival, protein expression (KCC2, NKCC1, p75^NTR, BDNF), and transcriptomic profiles were analyzed. Locomotor activity was unaffected by TBI. Both sexes showed reduced latency to anxiogenic zones, but only females spent more time in the open arms, suggesting d

SUBMITTER: Consumi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12504505 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature