Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on choline acetyltransferase in neurons after traumatic brain injury / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of hyperbaric oxygen on choline acetyltransferase ChAT levels in the neurons of rats with traumatic brain injury. Methods Traumatic brain injuries were modeled in rats using Feeney's method. Thirty male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups a traumatic brain injury group (group A) , a traumatic brain injury plus hyperbaric oxygen ( HBO) group ( group B) , and a sham operation group (group C). Samples of each rat's brain were tested for ChAT using immunohistochemical staining and light microscopy. Results ChAT-positive fibers in the hippocampus almost vanished after traumatic brain injury, but positive fibers were markedly increased after HBO treatment. Conclusion HBO treatment can activate neurons in the hippocampus and inhibit regression of cholinergic neurons, which may be one of the mechanisms by which HBO therapy improves learning ability in injured rats.