Alteration in Autonomic Function Induced by Moderate Fluid Percussion Injury Model in Rats

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents one of the most common social problems worldwide. This neurologic pathology often affects several body systemic organs, including the cardiovascular autonomic system. Changes in cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation through the heart rate variability (HRV) analysis have been observed in all degrees of TBI in patients. On the other hand, little research has been addressed in TBI models using rats as a potential target for better explore therapeutic approaches in this pathology. In this sense, we investigate the relationship before and after an induced moderate fluid percussion injury (FPI) model in rats on the HRV features. The findings found in our work showed clearly a decreasing the sympathetic (LF), parasympathetic (HF), and overall HRV (p < 0.01 for mean NN) activities post-TBI when compared to baseline animals. In concomitant to this, the heart rate increased, such as showed by decreasing the mean NN. Therefore, this study indicates that the impacted severity moderate TBI in rats impairs some cardiac autonomic function parameters. However, further research is needed to better understand this pathophysiology.KeywordsTraumatic brain injuryFluid percussion injuryAutonomic nervous systemHeart rate variabilityRat