Abstract
We previously described the time course of changes in neurologic status (as indicated by neurologic severity score [NSS]) and cerebral edema (as indicated by brain tissue specific gravity and water content) after closed head trauma in rats. The present study was designed to determine whether head trauma alters the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the role of the BBB in edema formation and neurologic outcome, and the effect of MK-801 (a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist) on BBB permeability. Rats in which cranial impact was delivered during ether anesthesia (n = 106) were killed at 15 min, 1, 2, 4, 10, and 24 h, and 2, 4, and 7 days. Control rats (n = 12) received no cranial impact. Subsets of head-injured rats killed at 4 and 24 h received MK-801 (3 mg/kg intraperitoneally) 1 h after injury. BBB permeability was assessed with intravenous injection of Evans Blue dye, cerebral edema was assessed by determining brain tissue specific gravity and water content, and neurologic status was assessed using NSS. Tissue extravasation of Evans Blue was maximal in the injured hemisphere 4 h after injury, but a residual BBB permeability defect was still evident as long as 4 days after the insult. In MK-801-treated rats, extravasation of Evans Blue in the injured hemisphere was not significantly different from that in the noninjured hemisphere.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
