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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 10, 2025

A Contusive Model of Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using the Infinite Horizon Impactor

A Contusive Model of Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using the Infinite Horizon Impactor

Published on: July 24, 2012

Contralateral Structure and Molecular Response to Severe Unilateral Brain Injury.

Xixian Liao¹, Xiaojian Xu², Ming Li¹

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China.

|August 28, 2025

Summary

Unilateral brain damage triggers inflammation and synaptic changes in the opposite brain hemisphere. Understanding these molecular shifts, including gene regulation, may reveal new therapeutic targets for brain injury recovery.

Keywords:

contralateral hemisphere glia synapse transcriptome unilateral brain injury

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Last Updated: Sep 10, 2025

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Published on: July 24, 2012

Cerebellar Regional Dissection for Molecular Analysis

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Stereotactic Atlas-Guided Laser Capture Microdissection of Brain Regions Affected by Traumatic Injury

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Published on: September 11, 2017

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Severe unilateral brain damage causes widespread brain changes, particularly in the contralateral hemisphere.
Investigating molecular and genetic alterations in the contralateral hemisphere is crucial for developing treatments for brain trauma recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze molecular and genetic changes in the contralateral cortex following unilateral brain injury.
To identify potential therapeutic targets for promoting recovery after severe brain trauma.

Main Methods:

Unilateral brain injury was simulated by surgical removal of the right motor cortex.
Immunohistological, morphological, Western blot, and transcriptomic analyses were performed on the contralateral cortex.
Gene expression changes related to inflammation and synaptic function were quantified using qRT-PCR.

Main Results:

Increased reactive astrocytes and hypertrophic microglia were observed in the contralateral cortex.
Elevated levels of synapsin-1 and PSD-95, along with structural synaptic changes, were detected.
Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulated inflammatory and synaptic pathways, with key transcription factors like NF-κB1, Rela, STAT3, and Jun identified.

Conclusions:

Contralateral hemisphere changes after unilateral brain damage are linked to inflammation and synaptic function.
Specific genes (Cacna1c, Tgfb1, Slc2a1) associated with identified transcription factors were upregulated.
These findings highlight the contralateral hemisphere's response to injury and its potential for therapeutic intervention.