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Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Development of an Uncomplicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Model Modified by Weight-Drop Method and Evidenced by Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: April 11, 2025
Effects of magnesium sulfate on traumatic brain edema in rats
Dong-fu Feng1, Zhi-an Zhu, Yi-cheng Lu
1Department of Neurosurgery, Baogang Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 201900, China. feng_df@yahoo.com
Objective:
To investigate the effects of magnesium sulfate on traumatic brain edema and explore its possible mechanism.
Methods:
Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control, Trauma and Treatment groups. In Treatment group, magnesium sulfate was intraperitoneally administered immediately after the induction of brain trauma. At 24 h after trauma, total tissue water content and Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+) contents were measured. Permeability of blood-brain barrier (BBB) was assessed quantitatively by Evans Blue (EB) dye technique. The pathological changes were also studied.
Results:
Water, Na(+), Ca(2+) and EB contents in Treatment group were significantly lower than those in Trauma group (P<0.05). Results of light microscopy and electron microscopy confirmed that magnesium sulfate can attenuate traumatic brain injury and relieve BBB injury.
Conclusions:
Treatment with MgSO4 in the early stage can attenuate traumatic brain edema and prevent BBB injury.
