The Role of Inflammation in the Development of Behavioral Changes and Seizure Susceptibility After Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury

The robust inflammatory response following traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be both beneficial and detrimental. This study directly compares the effects of increasing or decreasing TBI-related inflammation on behavioral outcome and seizure susceptibility. Fluid percussion injury was induced in four groups of young adult male Sprague- Dawley rats: 1) sham injury; 2) TBI; 3) TBI with minocycline; 4) TBI with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Rats underwent a series of behavioral tests including composite neuroscores, rotarod, novel object recognition and Barnes maze at various time points within the first month post-injury. Approximately nine months after injury, a subset of rats from each group was subjected to a pentylenetetrazol – induced seizure test. Decreasing inflammation by minocycline ameliorated increased seizure susceptibility in injured rats. Upregulating inflammation with LPS did not modify the seizure susceptibility. Both minocycline and LPS revealed mixed effects on behavioral outcomes. Findings suggest a dual role of inflammation after TBI.M.Sc