Protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on experimental brain contusions

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Hyperbaric Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Brain contusions are severe injuries with limited treatment options.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for assessing brain injury.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is being explored for its potential therapeutic effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of HBO on experimental brain contusions in rats.
• To quantify the impact of HBO on lesion volume and diffusion changes using MRI.

Main Methods:

• Controlled cortical impact injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats.
• Rats received a single HBO treatment (100% oxygen at 2.5 ATA for 60 min) or normobaric air.
• Longitudinal MRI scans were performed at 24 and 72 hours post-injury to measure lesion volume and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) changes.

Main Results:

• HBO treatment significantly reduced T2 lesion volume at 24 hours (63.1 mm3 vs. 87.4 mm3) and 72 hours (46.8 mm3 vs. 92.5 mm3) post-injury compared to controls.
• Relative ADC changes in the lesion area were significantly attenuated by HBO at 24 hours (+2.3% vs. +26.8%).
• The effect of HBO on ADC values was less pronounced at 72 hours compared to 24 hours.

Conclusions:

• A single HBO exposure initiated 1 hour after brain contusion significantly reduced lesion size and diffusion abnormalities.
• HBO demonstrates long-lasting neuroprotective effects on the injured brain and its surrounding penumbra.
• These findings suggest HBO as a potential therapeutic strategy for traumatic brain injury.