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Updated: Apr 11, 2026
A Repetitive Concussive Head Injury Model in Mice
Published on: October 12, 2016
Temporal MRI characterization, neurobiochemical and neurobehavioral changes in a mouse repetitive concussive head
Zhihui Yang1, Ping Wang2, Drake Morgan3
1Program for Neurotrauma, Neuroproteomics &Biomarkers Research, Departments of Psychiatry &Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Abstract:
Single and repeated sports-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also referred to as concussion, can result in chronic post-concussive syndrome (PCS), neuropsychological and cognitive deficits, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). However PCS is often difficult to diagnose using routine clinical, neuroimaging or laboratory evaluations, while CTE currently only can be definitively diagnosed postmortem. We sought to develop an animal model to simulate human repetitive concussive head injury for systematic study. In this study, mice received single or multiple head impacts by a stereotaxic impact device with a custom-made rubber tip-fitted impactor. Dynamic changes in MRI, neurobiochemical markers (Tau hyperphosphorylation and glia activation in brain tissues) and neurobehavioral functions such as anxiety, depression, motor function and cognitive function at various acute/subacute (1-7 day post-injury) and chronic (14-60 days post-injury) time points were examined. To explore the potential biomarkers of rCHI, serum levels of total Tau (T-Tau) and phosphorylated Tau (P-Tau) were also monitored at various time points. Our results show temporal dynamics of MRI consistent with structural perturbation in the acute phase and neurobiochemical changes (P-Tau and GFAP induction) in the subacute and chronic phase as well as development of chronic neurobehavioral changes, which resemble those observed in mTBI patients.
Insights
Researchers developed a novel animal model for repetitive concussive head injuries (rCHI) to study chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and post-concussive syndrome (PCS). This model mimics human mTBI symptoms, offering new avenues for diagnosing and treating brain injuries.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Sports-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion, can lead to chronic post-concussive syndrome (PCS) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
- Current diagnostic methods for PCS are often insufficient, and CTE diagnosis is only definitive postmortem.
- There is a critical need for reliable animal models to study the long-term effects of repetitive head injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an animal model simulating human repetitive concussive head injury (rCHI).
- To systematically investigate the dynamic changes following single and repeated head impacts.
- To identify potential biomarkers for diagnosing rCHI and related chronic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Mice were subjected to single or multiple head impacts using a stereotaxic impact device.
- Dynamic changes were assessed using MRI, neurobiochemical markers (Tau, GFAP), and neurobehavioral tests.
- Serum levels of total Tau (T-Tau) and phosphorylated Tau (P-Tau) were monitored over time.
Main Results:
- MRI revealed structural changes consistent with acute-phase injury.
- Neurobiochemical analysis showed P-Tau and GFAP induction in subacute and chronic phases.
- The model exhibited chronic neurobehavioral deficits in anxiety, depression, motor, and cognitive functions, mirroring human mTBI symptoms.
Conclusions:
- The developed animal model effectively replicates the temporal dynamics and pathological changes observed in human repetitive concussive head injuries.
- This model provides a valuable platform for studying the pathogenesis of PCS and CTE.
- The findings suggest potential serum biomarkers (T-Tau, P-Tau) for rCHI, warranting further investigation.
