Reversal of neuromotor and cognitive dysfunction in an enriched environment combined with multimodal early onset stimulation after traumatic brain injury in rats

J Neurotrauma. 2005 Jul;22(7):772-82. doi: 10.1089/neu.2005.22.772.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the additional benefits of a multimodal early onset stimulation (MEOS) paradigm when combined with enriched environment (EE) versus EE only and standard housing (SH) on the recovery after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). Male Sprague- Dawley rats were subjected to moderate lateral fluid percussion (LFP) brain injury (n = 40) or sham operation (n = 6). Thereafter, the injured and sham/EE + MEOS and EE only groups were placed into a complex EE consisting of tunnel-connected wide-bodied cages with various beddings, inclining platforms, and toys. Along with group living and environmental complexity, injured and sham/EE + MEOS animals were additionally exposed to a standardized paradigm of multimodal stimulation including auditory, visual, olfactory, and motor stimuli. In contrast, injured and sham/SH groups were housed individually without stimulation. A standardized composite neuroscore (NS) test was used to assess acute post-traumatic neuromotor deficits (24 h after injury) and recovery on days 7 and 15; recovery of cognitive function was assessed on days 11-15 using the Barnes maze. Neuromotor impairment was comparable in all injured animals at 24 h post-injury, but braininjured EE + MEOS rats performed significantly better than both brain-injured SH and EE groups when tested on post-injury days 7 and 15 (p = 0.004). Similarly, latencies to locate the hidden box under the Barnes maze platform were significantly shortened in EE + MEOS animals at day 15 (p = 0.003). These results indicate that the reversal of neuromotor and cognitive dysfunction after TBI can be substantially enhanced when MEOS is added to EE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation / methods
  • Animals
  • Brain Injuries / complications
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology
  • Brain Injuries / therapy*
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Environment Design
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / physiology
  • Movement Disorders / etiology
  • Movement Disorders / physiopathology
  • Movement Disorders / therapy*
  • Odorants
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
  • Physical Stimulation / methods
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Recovery of Function / physiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome