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Sodium channelopathy induced by mild axonal trauma worsens outcome after a repeat injury
Author(s) -
Yuen Tracy J.,
Browne Kevin D.,
Iwata Akira,
Smith Douglas H.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.22161
Subject(s) - channelopathy , traumatic brain injury , axon , sodium channel , pathophysiology , tetrodotoxin , medicine , pathological , neuroscience , anesthesia , sodium , psychology , chemistry , anatomy , psychiatry , organic chemistry
Abstract There is great concern that one mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) predisposes individuals to an exacerbated response with a subsequent mTBI. Although no mechanism has been identified, mounting evidence suggests traumatic axonal injury (TAI) plays a role in this process. By using a cell culture system, a threshold of mild TAI was found where dynamic stretch of cortical axons at strains lower than 5% induced no overt pathological changes. However, the axons were found to display an increased expression of sodium channels (NaChs) by 24 hr. After a second, identical mild injury, pathologic increases in [Ca 2+ ] i were observed, leading to axon degeneration. The central role of NaChs in this response was demonstrated by blocking NaChs with tetrodotoxin prior to the second injury, which completely abolished postinjury increases in [Ca 2+ ] i . These data suggest that mild TAI induces a form of sodium channelopathy on axons that greatly exaggerates the pathophysiologic response to subsequent mild injuries. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.