Changes of cortex mitochondrial function in chronic traumatic brain injury rats / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

This experimental study was aimed to evaluate the injurious effects of chronic traumatic brain injury on cortex mitochondrial function in rats. The head of rat was impacted by a metal sphere in a weight-drop device twice per day for 30 days, cortex mitochondria were isolated. Then the mitochondria membrane fluidity, swelling, respiratory function, the activities of mitochondria respiratory enzymes and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the levels of phospholipid, malondial dehyde (MDA) and Ca2+ were determined to analyze the function of mitochondria. The data indicated that chronic closed traumatic brain injury caused severe neuronal mitochondrial injuries. The swelling of mitochondria was aggravated, the decomposability of mitochondrial membrane phospholipid was increased, the membrane fluidity of mitochondria was decreased; the chronic closed traumatic brain injury also significantly depressed the activities of respiratory enzymes and SOD of mitochondria, increased the level of MDA and Ca2+. The chronic closed traumatic brain injury induced damage to rat cortex mitochondria. The mechanisms may be derived from the secondary increase of free radicals induced by mitochondrial membrane injury and the obstacle of rat brain energy metabolism.