Animal Models of Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as the damage to the brain as a result of mechanical forces like crush, violent blow, or jolt to the head from blunt or penetrating object into the skull like a bullet or a sharp object. TBI may or may not alter the consciousness of person, but it is one of the leading factors responsible for impairment of cognitive ability or physical functioning. It is well depicted in clinical reports that around 10 million of deaths and hospitalizations annually are directly attributable to TBI. Head injuries are mainly of two types, i.e., primary head injury is an injury sustained by the brain at the time of impact, e.g., brain laceration, brain contusion whereas secondary head injury may be delayed neuronal damage or cell loss over a period of hours, days, weeks, or months. This injury involves biochemical and molecular changes in the distant tissues lead to secondary injuries (such as hypoxia, hypotension, seizures, or repeated TBI).