Experimental analysis of blast shock wave-induced injuries in rats: Neurobehavioral and tissue damage assessments

To investigate the dynamic response characteristics of personnel injuries caused by blast shock waves under actual working conditions, experimental studies on blast-induced injuries in rats, behavioral experiments post-injury, and pathological examinations were conducted, followed by injury assessments. The results showed that all rats died when the peak overpressure was 0.427 MPa. At a peak overpressure of 0.192 MPa, the rats were assessed as moderately injured. Behavioral tests at 7 and 28 days revealed reduced motor ability and decreased autonomous exploration, with statistically significant results (P < 0.05). Pathological examinations indicated gradual recovery of brain and lung tissues, with only minor residual damage by day 28. At a peak overpressure of 0.125 MPa, the rats were classified as mildly injured. Statistically significant behavioral differences were observed only on day 7 (P < 0.05), and pathological results demonstrated complete recovery of brain and lung tissues by day 28. These findings provide valuable references for future personnel injury assessments and engineering applications.