Intra-abdominal hypertension causes disruption of the blood-brain barrier in mice, which is increased with added severe head trauma

Abstract

Although the individual effect of head trauma and intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) causing blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption has been studied separately, their combined effect on the integrity of BBB has not been investigated. This study examines the effects of IAH and head trauma, individually and in combination, on the permeability of the BBB in mice. Male CD-1 mice weighing 30 to 38 g were used. Control mice were anesthetized for 4 hours. The mice in the experimental group underwent the following: (1) IAH 4 hours, (2) head trauma, and (3) combined head trauma and IAH 4 hours. IAH was induced by intraperitoneal infusion of mineral oil to a pressure of 20 mm Hg. Head trauma was induced using weight drop technique. BBB permeability was quantified using the Evans blue dye extravasation method. BBB permeability was higher in the mice with IAH 4 hours compared with the control group (p < 0.05), higher in the mice with head trauma compared with the control group (p < 0.05), and significantly higher than the IAH and the control groups in the mice with combined IAH 4 hours and head trauma (both p < 0.05). The disruption of BBB in mice is produced by IAH and is increased with severe head trauma.