Assessment of traumatic brain injury degree in animal model

ABSTRACT

Objective: To establish stable and controllable brain injury with accurate degree and good repeatability in rat model. Methods: Controlled cortical impact (CCI) device was used to prepare for the rat brain injury model by the impact head of different model (Group A No. 4, Group B No. 5, Group C No. 6) and the impact depth (Group A 1.5-2.0 mm, Group B 2.5-3.0 mm, Group C 3.5-4.0 mm) with impact time of 0.1 s and impact velocity of 2.5 m/s. Twelve rats with three months of age were used in each group (the impact depth of every two rats was added 1 mm respectively). After modeling for 1 h, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was received and brain histopathology was observed to assess degree of injury by model parameters of three groups. Results: After modeling of Group A, MRI showed that the cortex structure was damaged with a small amount of bleeding in center and mild edema around, and the total volume of injury was (28.69±4.94) mm