Daily quetiapine after severe TBI improves learning and memory

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to cognitive impairments, neuroinflammation, and cerebral edema.
• Quetiapine (QTP), an atypical antipsychotic, has demonstrated potential in improving outcomes after TBI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of quetiapine (QTP) in ameliorating cognitive deficits and cerebral edema in a mouse model of severe TBI.
• To determine if QTP administration improves spatial learning and memory 14 days post-TBI.

Main Methods:

• Severe TBI or sham craniotomy was induced in male CD1 mice.
• Animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of saline (placebo) or QTP (10 or 20 mg/kg) for two weeks.
• Spatial learning and memory were assessed using the Morris Water Maze (MWM); cerebral edema was measured via wet-to-dry ratio.

Main Results:

• QTP administration improved weight recovery and significantly reduced cerebral edema in a dose-dependent manner (20 mg/kg).
• Both doses of QTP improved spatial learning by reducing latency and distance to the platform in the MWM.
• Higher QTP dose (20 mg/kg) significantly enhanced memory probe trials, indicating improved spatial memory recall.

Conclusions:

• Quetiapine treatment effectively reduces brain edema and enhances spatial learning and memory in mice following TBI.
• A dose-dependent effect of QTP was observed, with higher doses showing a more pronounced benefit on memory consolidation up to 14 days post-injury.
• These findings suggest a potential therapeutic role for QTP in managing cognitive deficits and brain swelling after TBI.