New method to induce mild traumatic brain injury in rodents produces differential outcomes in female and male Sprague Dawley rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are an increasing health concern due to persistent behavioral and neurological effects. To better understand these effects, researchers frequently rely on animal injury models. Existing models, however, may not adequately reproduce the mechanism of injury as it occurs in humans.

New method

Our new model for inducing mTBI in rodents entails acceleration of the animal toward a stationary impact zone to produce rapid rotational movement of the head. The aim of the present experiment was to characterize the effects of this injury in female and male rats on behavior, cognition, and neural plasticity.

Results

mTBI produced the most widespread effects in females: they were more active during recovery within minutes of mTBI and

SUBMITTER: Wirth P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5790318 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature