[Repeated mild traumatic brain injury in the parietal cortex inhibits expressions of NLG-1 and PSD-95 in the medulla oblongata of mice].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of repeated mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI) in the parietal cortex on neuronal morphology and synaptic plasticity in the medulla oblongata of mice.

METHODS

Thirty-two male ICR mice were randomly divided into sham operation group (=8) and rmTBI group (=24). The mice in the latter group were subjected to repeated mild impact injury of the parietal cortex by a free-falling object. The mice surviving the injuries were evaluated for neurological deficits using neurological severity scores (NSS), righting reflex test and forced swimming test, and pathological changes of the neuronal cells in the medulla oblongata were observed with HE and Nissl staining. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the expressions of neuroligin 1(NLG-1) and postsynaptic density protein 95(PSD-95) in the medulla oblongata of the mice that either survived rmTBI or not.

RESULTS

None of the mice in the sham-operated group died, while the mortality rate was 41.67% in rmTBI group. The mice surviving rmTBI showed significantly reduced NSS, delayed recovery of righting reflex, increased immobility time in forced swimming test ( < 0.05), and loss of Nissl bodies; swelling and necrosis were observed in a large number of neurons in the medulla oblongata, where the expression levels of NLG-1 and PSD-95 were significantly downregulated ( < 0.05). The mice that did not survive rmTBI showed distorted and swelling nerve fibers and decreased density of neurons in the medulla oblongina with lowered expression levels of NLG-1 and PSD-95 compared with the mice surviving the injuries ( < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The structural and functional anomalies of the synapses in the medulla oblongata may contribute to death and neurological impairment following rmTBI in mice.