Genetic inhibition of P2X7 attenuates cerebral edema after TBI.

<p>(<b>A</b>) P2X7−/− mice exhibited a significant reduction in brain water content, as compared to wild-type mice, when assessed at 24h post-TBI. Comparisons within each hemisphere between different treatments groups were done using a one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's post-hoc test (* p<0.05 vs. the ipsilateral hemisphere in sham-operated mice). No significant differences in cerebral edema were observed between groups in the contralateral hemisphere. (<b>B</b>) P2X7−/− mice displayed attenuated cerebral edema, as compared to wild-type mice, when assessed by MRI. The top panels depict a representative wild-type and a P2X7−/− mouse imaged at 24h post-TBI. Bottom panels represent the mean edemic volume of mice imaged by MRI. Data are represented as the mean ± SEM from six mice/group and were analyzed using a t-test (p<0.01 vs. wild-type).