Resources
Authors & Affiliations
Rada Jeremic, Sanja Dacic, Sanja Pekovic, Marina Djelic, Predrag Brkic
Abstract
Due to the complexity of the events in the tissue after the traumatic brain injury, adequate therapeutic protocols still need to be improved. A growing number of data suggests that hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) can influence the activity of adult neural stem cells (NSCs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sensorimotor cortex ablation (SCA) and HBO on processes of neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ), rostral migratory stream (RMS) and around the lesion site. The experiments were performed on adult male Wistar rats, ten weeks old. Animals were randomized into two groups (n = 10 per group): Lesion group (L) – the right sensorimotor cortex was removed by suction ablation, and Lesion + HBO (SCA + HBO). HBO protocol: Five hours following the surgical procedure, animals were subjected to the HBO protocol for 60 minutes (compression/decompression periods lasted 10 minutes), with pressure applied at 2.5 ATA. The treatment was performed once a day continuously for the next ten days, every 24 hours. Effects of HBO treatment were monitored using immunofluorescence. HBO treatment stimulates adult neurogenesis around the lesion site and in SVZ. By reducing neuroinflammation, HBO stimulates the migration of neuroblasts from the SVZ and the rostral migratory path to the lesion site and accelerates their maturation. Additionally, HBO treatment stimulates the generation of neuronal progenitors around the injury site. Our results indicate the protective effect of the HBO on the process of adult neurogenesis in SVZ, RMS and around the lesion site.