[Animal modeling] - Preparation and evaluation of rat model of cognitive impairment after brain injury

  Objective To explore the preparation and evaluation of an animal model of cognitive impairment after brain injury.

  Methods Sixty healthy male rats (Sprague Dawley, SD) and 48 rats screened by water maze were included in the experiment, and randomly divided into blank control, model control and model group. The model was prepared by using the electronic cerebral contusion impactor (eCCI) to hit, combined with water maze screening to determine the rats with cognitive impairment after brain injury (TBI). The vital signs, nerve function and motor function of rats were observed; Morris water maze experiment; The contents of MMP-2, MMP-9, SOD and MDA in serum were measured.

  Results Compared with the blank group, the vital signs in the model group were stable, and there were differences in all behavioral indicators (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the latency of water maze test and the results of space exploration test (P<0.01). The contents of MMP-2, MMP-9, MDA in serum increased significantly (P<0.01), and SOD decreased significantly (P<0.01).

  Conclusion The model preparation strategy can better simulate the cognitive impairment after brain injury, and it is stable, repeatable, objective, and easy to operate, which can be used for reference in similar studies.