Restor Neurol Neuros
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Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyAllopregnanolone, a progesterone metabolite, enhances behavioral recovery and decreases neuronal loss after traumatic brain injury.
In the current study we investigated whether allopregnanolone, a metabolite of progesterone, could replicate progesterone's beneficial effects in promoting spatial learning ability after bilateral medial prefrontal cortex contusions in rats. Allopregnanolone has been shown to enhance GABA neurotransmission, whereas its isomer epiallopregnanolone does not have this property. Thus, epiallopregnanolone was chosen as a control substance to examine further the role of GABA transmission in post-trauma neuroprotection. ⋯ Based on our findings, we suggest that allopregnanolone may mediate the effects of progesterone in promoting cognitive and morphological recovery from TBI through, among others, its direct or indirect effects on GABA-modulated neurons in the MDN and the NBM.
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Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2004
Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) signaling by BSF476921 attenuates regional cerebral edema following traumatic brain injury in rats.
In the present study we assessed the ability of BSF476921, an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) kinase signal transduction, to reduce edema formation and neurologic motor dysfunction following lateral fluid percussion (FP) brain injury in rats. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first report of a small molecule VEGFR kinase inhibitor reducing cerebral edema in a widely accepted model of brain injury.
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Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyBridging short nerve defects by direct repair under tension, nerve grafts or longitudinal sutures.
To compare the longitudinal suture model for bridging nerve defects with direct approximation under tension or with autologuos nerve grafting. ⋯ Longitudinal sutures can be used to bridge short nerve defects and could be an alternative to nerve grafting.
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Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2003
Comparative StudySpontaneous recovery of locomotion induced by remaining fibers after spinal cord transection in adult rats.
A major issue in analysis of experimental results after spinal cord injury is spontaneous functional recovery induced by remaining nerve fibers. The authors investigated the relationship between the degree of locomotor recovery and the percentage and location of the fibers that spared spinal cord transection. ⋯ Less than 5% of remaining ventrolateral white matter is sufficient for an unequivocal motor recovery after incomplete spinal cord injury. Therefore, for studies with spinal cord transection, the completeness of sectioning should be carefully checked before any conclusion can be reached. The fact that the degree of locomotor recovery is correlated with the percentage of remaining fibers in the ventrolateral spinal cord, exclusive of most of the descending motor tracts, may imply an essential role of propriospinal connections in the initiation of spontaneous locomotor recovery.
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Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2003
ReviewSerum S-100B protein as a molecular marker in severe traumatic brain injury.
There is growing evidence that S-100B protein may be used as a novel biochemical marker of brain cell damage, measured by a simple blood test. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge about S-100B serum measurements in severe head injury and address actual controversies. ⋯ S-100B belongs to a new generation of molecular serum markers of brain damage. These markers will have potential as a surrogate outcome marker or monitoring parameters for both clinical and experimental settings.