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Injury Models of the Central Nervous System pp 573–596Cite as

Detecting Behavioral Deficits Post Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1462))

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), ranging from mild to severe, almost always elicits an array of behavioral deficits in injured subjects. Some of these TBI-induced behavioral deficits include cognitive and vestibulomotor deficits as well as anxiety and other consequences. Rodent models of TBI have been (and still are) fundamental in establishing many of the pathophysiological mechanisms of TBI. Animal models are also utilized in screening and testing pharmacological effects of potential therapeutic agents for brain injury treatment. This chapter details validated protocols for each of these behavioral deficits post traumatic brain injury in Sprague-Dawley male rats. The elevated plus maze (EPM) protocol is described for assessing anxiety-like behavior; the Morris water maze protocol for assessing cognitive deficits in learning memory and spatial working memory and the rotarod test for assessing vestibulomotor deficits.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Kelly M. Standifer, for her support and mentorship on this project that was funded by the Department of the Army W81XWH-09-1-0443 (KMS); Larry P. Gonzalez for his expertise in behavioral sciences and training mentorship in these experimental methods; Paul Tompkins for operating the blast wave generator to induce TBI; and Charles Vorhees for his helpful correspondence regarding MWM paradigms.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy, 1110 N. Stonewall Ave. CPB 315, Oklahoma, OK, 73117, USA

    Hibah O. Awwad Ph.D.

  2. Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA

    Hibah O. Awwad Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Hibah O. Awwad Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Hibah O. Awwad Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., Alachua, Florida, USA

    Firas H. Kobeissy

  2. Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    C. Edward Dixon

  3. Banyan Biomarkers, Inc. , Alachua, Florida, USA

    Ronald L. Hayes

  4. Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., Alachua, Florida, USA

    Stefania Mondello

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Awwad, H.O. (2016). Detecting Behavioral Deficits Post Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats. In: Kobeissy, F., Dixon, C., Hayes, R., Mondello, S. (eds) Injury Models of the Central Nervous System. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1462. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3816-2_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3816-2_31

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3814-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3816-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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