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Distribution of Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption in Primary Blast Injury

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Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from explosive-related blast overpressure is a topic at the forefront of neurotrauma research. Compromise of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and other cerebral blood vessel dysfunction is commonly reported in both experimental and clinical studies on blast injury. This study used a rifle primer-driven shock tube to investigate cerebrovascular injury in rats exposed to low-impulse, pure primary blast at three levels of overpressure (145, 232, and 323 kPa) and with three survival times (acute, 24, and 48 h). BBB disruption was quantified immunohistochemically by measuring immunoglobulin G (IgG) extravasation with image analysis techniques. Pure primary blast generated small lesions scattered throughout the brain. The number and size of lesions increased with peak overpressure level, but no significant difference was seen between survival times. Despite laterally directed blast exposure, equal numbers of lesions were found in each hemisphere of the brain. These observations suggest that cerebrovascular injury due to primary blast is distinct from that associated with conventional TBI.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this research was provided by the Department of Defense (W81XWH-08-1-0295). The authors would like to acknowledge Jordan Walker and Louise Butler for assistance with tissue processing, imaging, and data analysis.

Conflict of interest

No conflicting financial interests exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, 50 S. Central Campus Drive, MEB 2132, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Stewart Yeoh, E. David Bell & Kenneth L. Monson

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Kenneth L. Monson

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  1. Stewart Yeoh
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  2. E. David Bell
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Correspondence to Kenneth L. Monson.

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Associate Editor Stefan M Duma oversaw the review of this article.

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Yeoh, S., Bell, E.D. & Monson, K.L. Distribution of Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption in Primary Blast Injury. Ann Biomed Eng 41, 2206–2214 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-013-0805-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-013-0805-7

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