Cumulative Brain Injury from Motor Vehicle-Induced Whole-Body Vibration and Prevention by Human Apolipoprotein A-I Molecule Mimetic (4F) Peptide (an Apo A-I Mimetic)

Abstract

Background Insidious cumulative brain injury from motor vehicle-induced whole-body vibration (MV-WBV) has not yet been studied. The objective of the present study is to validate whether whole-body vibration for long periods causes cumulative brain injury and impairment of the cerebral function. We also explored a preventive method for MV-WBV injury. Methods A study simulating whole-body vibration was conducted in 72 male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into 9 groups (N = 8): (1) 2-week normal control; (2) 2-week sham control (in the tube without vibration); (3) 2-week vibration (exposed to whole-body vibration at 30 Hz and .5 G acceleration for 4 hours/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks; vibration parameters in the present study are similar to the most common driving conditions); (4) 4-week sham control; (5) 4-week vibration; (6) 4-week vibration with human apolipoprotein A-I molecule mimetic (4F)-preconditioning; (7) 8-week sham control; (8) 8-week vibration; and (9) 8-week 4F-preconditioning group. All the rats were evaluated by behavioral, physiological, and histological studies of the brain. Results Brain injury from vibration is a cumulative process starting with cerebral vasoconstriction, squeezing of the endothelial cells, increased free radicals, decreased nitric oxide, insufficient blood supply to the brain, and repeated reperfusion injury to brain neurons. In the 8-week vibration group, which indicated chronic brain edema, shrunken neuron numbers increased and whole neurons atrophied, which strongly correlated with neural functional impairment. There was no prominent brain neuronal injury in the 4F groups. Conclusions The present study demonstrated cumulative brain injury from MV-WBV and validated the preventive effects of 4F preconditioning.

The Role of HDL and HDL Mimetic Peptides as Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease

“…In LDL receptor-null mice, oral D-4F reduced cerebrovascular inflammation and was associated with improved cognitive performance, without altering lipid levels in the plasma [178]. 4F was also found to protect against neuronal damage in a model of brain injury [179]. These studies indicate that the anti-inflammatory effects of 4F extend beyond the periphery into the brain, and suggest the potential for benefit in AD.…”

Managing Vibration Training Safety by Using Knee Flexion Angle and Rating Perceived Exertion

“…High-intensity WBV (2.5 g) causes unpleasant experiences in adults [ 14 ] and is considered unsafe if the magnitude of vibration transmitted to the head exceeds 1 g [ 37 ]. Excessive magnitudes of vibration stimulus to the head could increase susceptibility to motion sickness, vertigo, and visual impairment [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. The magnitude of head vibration can be monitored by the change of vibration transmission to the head.…”

“…However, this has aroused the attention to potential injuries that may occur during vibration exposures and the ideal vibration stimulus magnitudes that one can tolerate and sustain. In fact, if a human body is exposed to vibration over a long period, it is possible to induce head-related (such as vertigo and visual impairment) [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ] and joint-related musculoskeletal injuries [ 15 , 16 ]. Because of these negative consequences, in the domain of work sciences, the vibration magnitude and exposure time have been systematically standardized according to ISO 2631-1 [ 17 ].…”

“…Moreover, long-term WBV training has been widely utilized to improve the physical and functional abilities of the elderly [ 31 ] and knee injury individuals [ 4 ]. The higher and accumulative vibrations could potentially cause acute and chronic injuries to the head and fragile joints [ 12 , 13 , 16 , 18 ]. Therefore, maintaining proper knee angles to diminish vibration transmission to the head and knee is important and desirable.…”

Beneficial effects of whole-body vibration exercise for brain disorders in experimental studies with animal models: a systematic review

“…On other hand, long-term protocols conducted in healthy animals [91,92] to investigate whether WBV caused cumulative brain injury and impairment of the cerebral function. WBV led to injuries in peripheral nervous functional effects, indicating that as longer the vibration period, more severe the injury.…”