High Intensity Focused Ultrasound: A Novel Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are needed to ethically and experimentally characterize the effects of TBI on Warriors. Numerous techniques have been developed to model TBI, but each animal model of TBI has limitations regarding the induction of the TBI. Non-invasive injuries such as blast overpressure result in diffuse injuries, while invasive injuries such as closed cortical injury result in localized injury. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has been proposed as a non-invasive model to induce localized, neural-specific mild TBI (mTBI) that could lead to a better understanding of the impact of mTBI on specific brain regions. Two experiments were conducted to characterize the neurobehavioral effects of HIFU model of mTBI in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. The first experiment was a 2 (no injury, injury) x 2 (male, female) full factorial mixed design (N=20). The results of this study revealed a between-subjects interaction of sex x injury (F(1, 16) = 4.539, p = .049) for Vertical Activity, suggesting greater depression-related behavior for HIFU-exposed females compared with the other conditions. The second study was a 3 (control, sham control, injury) x 2 (male, female) full factorial mixed design (N=64). This study sought to replicate and extend the findings of the previous study by introducing a sham control that would help to distinguish HIFU effects from the HIFU injury preparation and anesthesia. Results show trends towards significant differences for HIFU injury animals compared with both control and sham control for neurobehavioral performance and locomotor activity. These findings suggest HIFU may affect behavior in rats, but the model of TBI is not as robust as other animal models.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 07, 2013
Accession Number
AD1012920

Entities

People

  • Brendan J. Finton

Organizations

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan Conflict
  • Bioassay
  • Blood-Brain Barrier
  • Brain
  • Brain Injuries
  • Cells
  • Craniocerebral Trauma
  • Health Services
  • Iraqi-War
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Medical Personnel
  • Neurosciences
  • Pain
  • Psychology
  • Surgery
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Theses

Readers

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.