Structural and functional alterations of cerebellum following fluid percussion injury in rats
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Cerebellum was shown to be vulnerable to traumatic brain injury (TBI) in experimental animals. However, the detailed pathological and functional changes within the cerebellum following TBI are not known. Using our established cerebellum fluid percussion injury (FPI) model, we characterized the temporal pattern and the nature of structural damage following FPI, as well as the functional changes of Purkinje cells in response to climbing fiber activation. Our results showed that 60% of Purkinje cells died within the first 24 h following moderate FPI. In contrast, clusters of densely stained shrunken granule cells were stained positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) in 1, 3 or 7 days following FPI animals. We also observed an accompanying structural damage to the cerebellar white matter tract. Disconnected axonal fibers appeared 1 day post-FPI, and loss of white matter fibers were visible 3 and 7 days post-FPI. Massive accumulation of β-amyloid precursor protein (βAPP) was found in the white matter tracts and molecular layer in the cerebellum of 1, 3 or 7 days FPI animals. Our functional study showed that the majority of Purkinje cells from 1 day and all cells from 3 to 7 days post-FPI had distorted membrane potential and synaptic responses to climbing fiber activation. These results suggested that there is a co-related structural and functional deterioration with a specific temporal pattern in the cerebellum following FPI. These observations provide a basis for future mechanistic investigations aiming to realize neuroprotection from cerebellar neuronal death and loss of cerebellar functionality. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.
Keywords
Cerebellum, Climbing fiber, Purkinje cell death, Traumatic brain injury
Publication Date
2-1-2007
Publication Title
Experimental Brain Research
ISSN
00144819
Volume
177
Issue
1
First Page
95
Last Page
112
PubMed ID
16924485
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1007/s00221-006-0654-9
Recommended Citation
Ai, Jinglu; Liu, Elaine; Park, Eugene; and Baker, Andrew J., "Structural and functional alterations of cerebellum following fluid percussion injury in rats" (2007). Translational Neuroscience. 958.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurobiology/958