Objectives: Trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) is a promising strategy in treating diseases of the nervous system. In this study, the effects of TNS on traumatic brain injury (TBI) were investigated in a mouse model.
Materials and methods: TBI was induced using a weight-drop device, and TNS treatment was delivered in the first hour after the TBI. Twenty-four hours later, the mice's behavior, brain edema, and expression of inflammatory factors were tested. Functional magnetic resonance imaging also was used to explore the possible effects of TNS on brain activity.
Results: TNS alleviates TBI-induced neurological dysfunction in animal behavior tests, besides protecting the blood-brain barrier and reducing the level of brain edema. TNS also effectively reduces the level of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6 and downregulates the cleaved caspase-3 signaling pathway. A series of brain areas was found to be possibly regulated by TNS, thus affecting the neural functions of animals.
Conclusion: This study elucidates the role of TNS as an effective treatment for TBI by inhibiting the occurrence of a secondary brain injury.
Keywords: Apoptosis; blood-brain barrier; inflammation; traumatic brain injury; trigeminal nerve stimulation.
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