Relationship between injury severity and serum tau protein levels in traumatic brain injured rats

Resuscitation. 2010 Sep;81(9):1205-8. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2010.05.016. Epub 2010 Jul 2.

Abstract

Background: Although serum tau protein levels increase following TBI, the time course is unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine whether serum tau protein levels increased in both a severity-dependent and time-dependent manner in an experimental model of rat traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: A total of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to varying grades of TBI using a contusion injury model on the right parietal cortex. Enzyme-linked Immunoabsorbent Assay (ELISA) analysis for serum was performed at 15 min pre-injury, 1, 6, 24, 48, and 168 h post-injury. Immunoblotting for serum tau protein, neurological evaluation and histological observation were also performed.

Results: Tau protein levels rapidly increased after 1 h in both mild and severe TBI groups (p<0.001), and declined after 6 h. In the sham-operated group, tau protein levels did not change significantly after TBI. Tau protein levels were severity-dependent at 1 and 6 h after TBI. The levels were higher in the severe TBI group than in the mild TBI group at 1 h (p<0.001) and 6 h (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Serum tau protein levels were severity-dependent and time-dependent at 1 and 6 h after TBI. However, the serum tau protein may not be a useful marker 24 h after TBI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Immunoblotting
  • Male
  • Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Parietal Lobe / injuries*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Time Factors
  • Trauma Severity Indices
  • tau Proteins / blood*

Substances

  • tau Proteins