Traumatic Brain Injury

Specialized Models for Discovering Next-Generation Therapies

Back to Pharmacology and Toxicology Assessment top page

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Delayed pathogenic events can exacerbate the injury, and TBI survivors frequently endure long-term cognitive and sensory-motor deficits. To investigate the pathological features of TBI and evaluate potential treatments, researchers utilize translational models that mimic various aspects of TBI. Inotiv offers a rodent TBI model and contract research services tailored to evaluate the efficacy of novel therapeutics in tackling this complex condition.

Models of TBI

We offer a TBI model that replicates key aspects of diffuse brain injury. Explore how our model can impact your drug discovery program.

Weight Drop Model

Model Summary

The weight drop model, developed by Marmarou et al., is used to mimic diffuse TBI. The model involves delivering a blunt force to an intact skull. The injury diffuses throughout the brain, replicating injuries seen in humans following a fall, motor vehicle accident, or direct impacts to the head. Additionally, the animal lays prone on a foam pad, which minimizes the risk of contrecoup injuries by reducing the deceleration of the animal’s head post-impact.

Study Design

Traumatic_Brain_Injury_Study_Desgin_Weight_Drop_Model

Validation Data

Traumatic_Brain_Injury_Validation_Data_Motor_Activity

Acute motor recovery was tested on the beam walk 1- and 3-days post injury. Untreated TBI mice (TBI, red bars) had significantly more foot faults than sham injured animals (Sham, light orange bars) and more than mice that received branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) either before (Pre, light grey bars) or both before and after (Pre + Post, orange bars) TBI induction. Administrating BCAAs only after TBI induction (Post, dark grey bars) did not reduce motor dysfunction in TBI mice. Data sets that do not share any letters differed significantly. The data were generated by Inotiv scientists and reported in Dickerman, R.D. et al. (2022) Neurotrauma Rep. 3:321.

Traumatic_Brain_Injury_Validation_Data_UCHL1

Levels of the tissue damage marker UCH-L1 in the cortex of mice subjected to TBI were measured by ELISA. Significant increases in UCH-L1 were observed in TBI mice (red bars) compared to sham operated mice (orange bars) at most time points after injury induction. Data sets that do not share any letters differed significantly.

[Product Sheet]
Advanced Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Not seeing the model you need? Contact us to discuss developing a new disease pharmacology model for your preclinical research program.

Behavioral Testing for TBI Models

TBI induces multiple functional impairments including cognitive deficiencies, motor dysfunction, pain, emotional disorders, and social abnormalities. We offer a full range of assays that monitors behaviors associated with TBI for therapy validation.

Elevated plus maze
Light-dark box
Open field arena
Beam walk
Rotarod
Morris water maze
Barnes maze
Forced swim test

Sucrose preference test
Three chamber social task
Contextual/Cued fear conditioning
Cylinder test
Home cage activity
Hargreaves test
Von Frey test

Additional Endpoints for TBI Research

Our capabilities extend beyond models and behavioral testing. We have a broad range of GLP and non-GLP in vivo and in vitro assays that can be customized to provide solutions for your drug discovery program.