Effect of varying blast intensities on vascular leakage and BBB damage.

<p>Animals were exposed to mild (>20–50 psi), moderate (>50–90 psi) and severe (>90–130 psi) blast pressures. The damaged brains were harvested and imaged at 24 h post injury. <b>A)</b> A commensurate increase in the amount of EB dye leakage in brain tissue (in nanograms) and intensity of the shock waves used, i.e., mild (>20–50 psi), moderate (>50–90 psi) and severe (>90–130 psi). Data are shown as mean ± s.e.m., <i>n</i> = 4; <i>*p</i> ≤ 0.05. Statistical significance was calculated one-way ANOVA with Neuman-Keuls post-test. <b>B)</b> Representative images of immunofluorescently detected extravasated IgG in bTBI vs. naïve brains. Photo micrograph displays the increased IgG immunoreactivity in a region from the striatum of mild-bTBI brain as evidenced by enhanced fluorescent signal intensity. Absent leakage indicates integrity of the BBB as is evident in the naïve brain section which displays almost no fluorescent signal. Scale bar: 50 μm. <b>C)</b> Gross brain pathology following bTBI showed larger blood vessel diameters and hematomas (black arrows), more prominently in the frontal and occipital lobes (left side). Optical images of EB dye leakage shows prominent leakage in the brainstem area in bTBI animals.