Serum pNF-H levels in the first six hours after experimental mild traumatic brain injury in rats

E. Karesioglu, H.I. Cikriklar, V.A. Durak, B. Aydin, A. Ardic, E. Armagan

Emergency Medicine Department, Bursa Uludağ University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey. halilcikriklar@uludag.edu.tr

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• Neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) cases with a normal CT scanning account for the vast majority of all TBI patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the course of serum Phosphorylated Neurofilament Heavy Chain (pNF-H) levels in the first six hours after trauma in rats in experimental mTBI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental animal study, 32 female Sprague-Dawley rats were enrolled equally (n=8) into 3 experimental groups and 1 control group. In experimental groups, animals were exposed to a mTBI with a free fall of 50-gram metal disc from a height of 80 cm. We compared serum pNF-H levels at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th hours after traumatic brain injury in the experimental groups with the control group.

RESULTS: Serum pNF-H levels at the 2nd and 4th hours after traumatic brain injury were statistically significantly higher than the control group. Serum pNF-H levels gradually decreased at the 4th and 6th hours compared to the 2nd hour and decreased to a similar level to the control group at the 6th hour after injury.

CONCLUSIONS: A high serum pNF-H value, could be used in the diagnosis and management of mTBI patients.

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