An inflammatory pulmonary insult post-traumatic brain injury worsens subsequent spatial learning and neurological outcomes. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2019 Sep;87(3):552-558
Date
06/18/2019Pubmed ID
31205212Pubmed Central ID
PMC10497189DOI
10.1097/TA.0000000000002403Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85071710717 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 8 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients are at high risk for early aspiration and pneumonia. How pneumonia impacts neurological recovery after TBI is not well characterized. We hypothesized that, independent of the cerebral injury, pneumonia after TBI delays and worsens neurological recovery and cognitive outcomes.
METHODS: Fifteen CD1 male mice were randomized to sham craniotomy or severe TBI (controlled cortical impact [CCI] - velocity 6 m/s, depth 1.0 mm) ± intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS-2 mg/kg in 0.1 mL saline) as a pneumonia bioeffector. Neurological functional recovery by Garcia Neurologic Testing (GNT) and body weight loss were recorded daily for 14 days. On Days 6-14, animals underwent Morris Water Maze learning and memory testing with cued trials (platform visible), spatial learning trials (platform invisible, spatial cues present), and probe (memory) trials (platform removed, spatial clues present). Intergroup differences were assessed by the Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05).
RESULTS: Weight loss was greatest in the CCI + LPS group (maximum 24% on Day 3 vs. 8% [Sham], 7% [CCI], both on Day 1). GNT was lowest in CCI + LPS during the first week. Morris Water Maze testing demonstrated greater spatial learning impairment in the CCI + LPS group vs. Sham or CCI counterparts. Cued learning and long-term memory were worse in CCI + LPS and CCI as compared to Sham.
CONCLUSION: A pneumonia bioeffector insult after TBI worsens weight loss and mortality in a rodent model. Not only is spatial learning impaired, but animals are more debilitated and have worse neurologic performance. Understanding the adverse effects of pneumonia on TBI recovery is the first step d patients.
Author List
Jacovides CL, Ahmed S, Suto Y, Paris AJ, Leone R, McCarry J, Christofidou-Solomidou M, Kaplan LJ, Smith DH, Holena DN, Schwab CW, Pascual JLAuthor
Daniel N. Holena MD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsBrain Injuries, Traumatic
Disease Models, Animal
Lipopolysaccharides
Male
Maze Learning
Memory
Memory Disorders
Mice
Pneumonia
Spatial Learning
Weight Loss
