Effects of transection of cervical sympathetic trunk on cognitive function of traumatic brain injury rats

Abstract

Objective: To observe the effects of transection of cervical sympathetic trunk (TCST) on the cognitive function of traumatic brain injury (TBI) rats and the potential mechanisms.

Methods: A total of 288 adult male SD rats were divided into 3 groups using a random number table: TBI group (n=96), TBI + TCST group (n=96) and Sham group (n=96). The water maze test was performed before TBI (T0) and at day 1 (T₁), day 2 (T₂), day 3 (T₃), 1 week (T₄), 2 weeks (T₅), 6 weeks (T₆) and 12 weeks (T₇) after TBI. The levels of α1-adrenergic receptors (α1-ARs), α2-adrenergic receptors (α2-ARs), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and P38 in hippocampi were detected by real-time PCR. Hippocampal P38 expression was assayed by Western blot. The expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were examined by immunohistochemistry. Noradrenaline (NE) expression in plasma was evaluated by ELISA. The respiratory control ratio (RCR) of brain mitochondria was detected using a Clark oxygen electrode.

Results: TCST effectively improved the cognitive function of TBI rats. TCST significantly inhibited sympathetic activity in the rats and effectively inhibited inflammatory responses. The expression of BDNF at T₁-T₆ in TBI+TCST group was higher than that in TBI group (P<0.05). Furthermore, P38 expression was inhibited more effectively in TBI+TCST group (P<0.05), than in TBI group (P<0.05), and the RCR of the brain was significantly higher in TBI+TCST group than in TBI group (P<0.05).

Conclusions: TCST can enhance cognitive function in TBI rats by inhibiting sympathetic activity, reducing inflammatory responses and brain edema, upregulating BDNF and improving brain mitochondrial function.

Keywords:

• traumatic brain injury
• transection of the cervical sympathetic trunk
• sympathetic nervous system
• inflammatory response
• mitochondrial function

Acknowledgment

This study is financially supported by the Doctoral Scientific Fund Project of Guizhou Provincial Peoples’ Hospital (GZSYBS[2015]06) and Youth Scientific Fund Project of Guizhou Provincial Peoples’ Hospital (GZSYQN[2016]04).

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare in this work.