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Development of a Minipig Model of BINT From Blast Exposure Using a Repeatable Mobile Shock Expansion Tube
Elizabeth McNeil1, Timothy Walilko2, Lindsey E Hulbert3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Military Medicine
|October 22, 2021
Summary
This study used a shock tube to expose minipigs to blast overpressure, revealing diffuse brain injury and neuroinflammation despite transient behavioral recovery. These findings support developing science-based blast exposure guidelines for service members.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Toxicology
Background:
- The Office of Naval Research (ONR) established the Blast Load Assessment Sense and Test (BLAST) program to monitor blast exposure in service members.
- Standardized preclinical large animal studies are crucial for developing science-based guidelines by measuring physiological outcomes not observable in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a standardized methodology for preclinical large animal studies assessing blast exposure.
- To generate a comprehensive dataset of neurological outcome measures correlated with controlled blast exposure in Yucatan minipigs.
Main Methods:
- 23 Yucatan minipigs were exposed to a single blast event (280-525 kPa) using a compressed gas shock tube.
- Neurological outcomes were assessed 72 hours post-exposure using neuroimaging (Diffusion Tensor Imaging), histology, and behavioral tests.
- Exposed animals were compared to a sham-treated control group.
Main Results:
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging revealed a statistically significant decrease in Fractional Anisotropy across the entire brain volume, indicating diffuse brain tissue alterations.
- Histopathology showed increased neurodegeneration and microglia/macrophage activation in the hippocampus of blast-exposed animals.
- Behavioral changes were transient, with animals returning to baseline, yet neurodegenerative and inflammatory responses persisted.
Conclusions:
- A shock tube is an effective tool for repeatable blast exposure studies in large animals.
- Blast overpressure exposure can be correlated with imaging, behavioral, and histological analyses.
- Multivariate analysis of physiological indicators is essential for tracking blast-induced changes and informing guidelines.
