Systemic effects of isolated brain injury: an experimental animal study

Although various experimental works of neurotrauma research are performed, little attention has been paid to the concomitant systemic changes following isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI). Such investigations seem to be a prerequisite condition for evaluation of experimental drugs, which may diminish the secondary damage following TBI. We describe histopathologic findings of the lung, liver, spleen and kidney 96 hours following an experimental TBI.

Ten male C57BI/6 mice were subjected to a controlled cortical impact (CCI) over the left parietotemporal cortex using rounded-tip impounder for application of a standardized brain injury. Subjects were killed 96 hours following trauma. Brain, lung, liver, kidney and spleen were preserved for morphologic examinations.

Moderate histopathologic changes were evident in the lung and liver. The kidney and spleen seem not to be affected by the trauma regarding our examination.

The findings of this study show that even isolated TBI can lead to a migration of immunocompetent cells to peripheral organs potentially leading to dysfunctions of peripheral organs to various extents. More attention to peripheral organs during experimental TBI research is indicated.