Chronic cognitive effects of bilateral subdural haematomas in the rat

Abstract

Humans suffering from subdural haematomas often show long-term cognitive dysfunctions. For identifying putative, recovery-enhancing therapeutics, animal models need to be developed in which recovery of function can be measured. For investigating whether and which type of recovery, i.e. spontaneous or training-induced recovery, or continuous partial retardation, is present in the rat model for bilateral subdural haematomas, spatial navigation abilities were assessed in the Morris water escape task in independent groups of rats at 1, 2, 4, 8, or 18 weeks after surgery. Complete spontaneous recovery seemed to occur at 8 weeks after injury. However, at 18 weeks after injury, the subdural haematoma caused a renewed deterioration of water maze performance, which was of a lesser degree than the impairments observed immediately after injury. This second phase performance deterioration was accompanied by an increase in generalised astrocyte reactivity. The rat subdural haematoma model provides an interesting tool for investigating spontaneous recovery processes of spatial navigation (8 weeks after injury), but also for progressive brain dysfunctions, considering the second phase of behavioural impairments seen at 18 weeks after injury.

Membrane Neovascularization and Drainage of Subdural Hematoma in a Rat Model

“…The cognitive dysfunctions and secondary performance deficiencies that accompany the increase in acute phase astrocyte reactivity have also been reported in patients and in animal models of experimental SDH (Eijkenboom et al, 2000(Eijkenboom et al, , 2004. However, there have been limited studies (Apfelbaum et al, 1974;Watanabe et al, 1972) on the time course and mechanism of hematoma absorption.…”

Short-term effects of synchrotron irradiation on vasculature and tissue in healthy mouse brain

“…Converging results were obtained. The absence of gliosis in healthy brain tissue is important information in the perspective of the setting up of clinical trials, as gliosis is often related to functional impairments (Akiyama et al, 2001;Eijkenboom et al, 2004).…”

Anti-HMGB1 mAb Therapy Reduces Epidural Hematoma Injury

“…EDH model was established according to the surgical procedure of Eijkenboom et al [ 28 ] with some modifications. In short, under anesthesia with 3.0% isoflurane (#v002139, VTRS, Tokyo, Japan) in a mixture of 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide gas, burr holes (diameter of 3 mm) were drilled into the skull above the cortex (coordinates: 3.0 mm lateral and 1.0 mm posterior from bregma).…”