Frontiers in Neurology (May 2020)

Repeated Long-Term Sub-concussion Impacts Induce Motor Dysfunction in Rats: A Potential Rodent Model

  • Andrew P. Lavender,
  • Andrew P. Lavender,
  • Samuel Rawlings,
  • Andrew Warnock,
  • Andrew Warnock,
  • Terry McGonigle,
  • Terry McGonigle,
  • Bailey Hiles-Murison,
  • Bailey Hiles-Murison,
  • Michael Nesbit,
  • Michael Nesbit,
  • Virginie Lam,
  • Virginie Lam,
  • Mark J. Hackett,
  • Mark J. Hackett,
  • Melinda Fitzgerald,
  • Melinda Fitzgerald,
  • Melinda Fitzgerald,
  • Ryusuke Takechi,
  • Ryusuke Takechi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.00491
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Whilst detrimental effects of repeated sub-concussive impacts on neurophysiological and behavioral function are increasingly reported, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we report that repeated sub-concussion with a light weight drop (25 g) in wild-type PVG rats for 2 weeks does not induce detectable neuromotor dysfunction assessed by beamwalk and rotarod tests. However, after 12 weeks of repeated sub-concussion, the rats exhibited moderate neuromotor dysfunction. This is the first study to demonstrate development of neuromotor dysfunction following multiple long-term sub-concussive impacts in rats. The outcomes may offer significant opportunity for future studies to understand the mechanisms of sub-concussion-induced neuropsychological changes.

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