【Animal Modeling】-How to establish a rat model of cognitive impairment after head injury?

  Objective: To discuss the establishment and evaluation of animal models of cognitive impairment after craniocerebral trauma.

  Method: 60 healthy male rats (Sprague Dawley, SD) and 48 water mazes were screened experimentally, and they were randomly divided into blank control group, model control group and model group. The model was prepared using electronic Cortical Contusion Impactor (eCCI) combined with water maze screening method to identify rats with impaired cognitive function after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Observe the rat's vital signs, nerve function, motor function, perform Morris water maze experiment, measure the changes of serum MMP-2, MMP-9, SOD, MDA content.

  Result: Compare with the blank group. The vital signs of the model group were stable, and the behavior indicators were different (Pu003c0.05). There is a big difference between the incubation period and the spatial results of the water maze experiment. Exploration experiment (Pu003c0.01). The serum levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and MDA increased significantly (Pu003c0.01), and SOD decreased significantly (Pu003c0.01).

  Conclusion: This model preparation strategy can better simulate the cognitive impairment after head injury, while providing stability, repeatability, objective evaluation and ease of operation.