Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Systems Analysis of the Neuroinflammatory and Hemodynamic Response to Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: May 27, 2022
Diffuse brain injury does not affect chronic sleep patterns in the mouse
Rachel K Rowe1, Jordan L Harrison, Bruce F O'Hara
1BARROW Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital , Phoenix, AZ , USA .
Primary Objective:
To test if the current model of diffuse brain injury produces chronic sleep disturbances similar to those reported by TBI patients.
Methods And Procedures:
Adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to moderate midline fluid percussion injury (n = 7; 1.4 atm; 6-10 minutes righting reflex time) or sham injury (n = 5). Sleep-wake activity was measured post-injury using a non-invasive, piezoelectric cage system. Chronic sleep patterns were analysed weekly for increases or decreases in percentage sleep (hypersomnia or insomnia) and changes in bout length (fragmentation).
Main Outcomes And Results:
During the first week after diffuse TBI, brain-injured mice exhibited increased mean percentage sleep and mean bout length compared to sham-injured mice. Further analysis indicated the increase in mean percentage sleep occurred during the dark cycle. Injury-induced changes in sleep, however, did not extend beyond the first week post-injury and were not present in weeks 2-5 post-injury.
Conclusions:
Previously, it has been shown that the midline fluid percussion model used in this study immediately increased post-traumatic sleep. The current study extended the timeline of investigation to show that sleep disturbances extended into the first week post-injury, but did not develop into chronic sleep disturbances. However, the clinical prevalence of TBI-related sleep-wake disturbances warrants further experimental investigation.
Insights
Diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice caused temporary sleep disturbances in the first week post-injury, but did not lead to chronic insomnia or hypersomnia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
- Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is frequently associated with sleep disturbances in patients.
- The midline fluid percussion (FP) model is used to study diffuse TBI.
- The chronic effects of TBI on sleep patterns require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if the midline FP model of diffuse TBI induces chronic sleep disturbances.
- To compare sleep patterns in TBI mice to those in sham-injured controls over several weeks.
Main Methods:
- Adult male C57BL/6 mice underwent moderate midline FP injury or sham procedures.
- Sleep-wake activity was monitored non-invasively using piezoelectric cages.
- Chronic sleep patterns were analyzed weekly for changes in sleep percentage and bout length.
Main Results:
- Brain-injured mice showed increased sleep percentage and bout length during the first week post-injury.
- The increase in sleep primarily occurred during the dark cycle.
- These sleep alterations resolved by week 2 and were absent in weeks 2-5 post-injury.
Conclusions:
- The midline FP model causes acute, but not chronic, sleep disturbances.
- Sleep disturbances after TBI in this model are limited to the first week post-injury.
- Further research is needed to understand the clinical prevalence of TBI-related sleep-wake disturbances.
