‘Hit & Run' model of closed-skull traumatic brain injury (TBI) reveals complex patterns of post-traumatic AQP4 dysregulation

Cerebral edema is a major contributor to morbidity associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The methods involved in most rodent models of TBI, including head fixation, opening of the skull, and prolonged anesthesia, likely alter TBI development and reduce secondary injury. We report the development of a closed-skull model of murine TBI, which minimizes time of anesthesia, allows the monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP), and can be modulated to produce mild and moderate grade TBI. In this model, we characterized changes in aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression and localization after mild and moderate TBI. We found that global AQP4 expression after TBI was generally increased; however, analysis of AQP4 localization revealed that the most prominent effect of TBI on AQP4 was the loss of polarized localization at endfoot processes of reactive astrocytes. This AQP4 dysregulation peaked at 7 days after injury and was largely indistinguishable between mild and moderate grade TBI for the first 2 weeks after injury. Within the same model, blood–brain barrieranalysis of variance permeability, cerebral edema, and ICP largely normalized within 7 days after moderate TBI. These findings suggest that changes in AQP4 expression and localization may not contribute to cerebral edema formation, but rather may represent a compensatory mechanism to facilitate its resolution.     

Glycerol accumulation in edema formation following diffuse traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces brain edema via water and glycerol transport channels, called aquaporins (AQPs). The passage of glycerol across brain cellular compartments has been shown during edema. Using a modified impact/head acceleration rodent model of diffuse TBI, we assessed the role of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha in regulating AQP9 expression and glycerol accumulation during the edema formation. Adult (400-425 g) male Sprague-Dawley rats received a closed head injury with a weight drop (450 g, 2-m height) and were allowed to survive up to 48 hours. Some rat groups were administered 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2, a HIF-1alpha inhibitor) 30 minutes after injury and were euthanized at 4 and 24 hours after injury. Brain edema was measured directly by water content, and glycerol concentration was determined by the Cayman Glycerol Assay. HIF-1alpha and AQP9 protein levels were assessed by Western immunoblotting. This study demonstrated a significant (P<0·05) increase in brain water content at 4-48 hours following impact. Cerebral glycerol was significantly (P<0.05) up-regulated at as early as 1 hour and remained at high levels for up to 48 hours. Similarly, significant (P<0.05) increases in HIF-1alpha and AQP9 protein levels were found at 1 hour and up to 48 hours after injury. Compared to untreated but injured rats, inhibition of HIF-1alpha by 2ME2 significantly (P<0.05) reduced the TBI-induced AQP9 up-regulation. This reduction was temporally associated with significant (P<0.05) decreases in both edema and glycerol accumulation. The data suggested an associated induction of HIF-1alpha, AQP9, and extracellular glycerol accumulation in edema formation following diffuse TBI. The implication of HIF-1alpha and AQP9 underlying TBI-induced edema formation offers possibilities for novel TBI therapies.     

大鼠重型颅脑损伤急性期水通道蛋白4的表达

目的探讨水通道蛋白（AQP4）在大鼠重型脑外伤急性期的表达变化及其与脑水肿间的关系。方法49只成年雄性SD大鼠,随机分为对照组及实验组（伤后4h、8h、12h、24h、5d共5组）。制作重度冲击加速性损伤模型,分别于伤后4h、8h、12h、24h、72h、5d采用干湿比重法测脑组织含水量,原子吸收分光光度法测定Na^＋、K^＋含量,Evans Blue（EB）测定法观察大鼠血-脑屏障（BBB）通透性变化,半定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测脑组织AQP4 mRNA表达及其变化。结果脑组织AQP4 mRNA在伤后4h开始表达上调,8h、12h依次增高,24h达到峰值（P〈0.05）,3d时仍维持较高水平,伤后5d有所降低。脑含水量、Na^＋含量的变化与AQP4 mRNA表达变化一致。经相关性分析,AQP4 mRNA的表达与脑含水量及脑EB含量均呈正相关（P〈0.05）。结论重型脑损伤急性期,AQP4 mRNA表达的变化与颅脑损伤后BBB的破坏及脑水肿的形成和发展密切相关。AQP4可能参与重型脑损伤后脑水肿的形成并起重要作用。     

脑损伤后水通道蛋白4表达与血脑屏障通透性的关系

目的研究脑损伤后，水通道蛋白4（AQP4）的表达变化与血脑屏障（BBB）通透性之间的关系。方法健康成年Wistar大鼠，随机分成创伤性（TBI）组和假手术（SO）组。自由落体硬膜外撞击方法致重度脑创伤模型。于伤后4h、8h、12h、1d、3d、5d、7d取出大鼠脑组织，进行以下实验：①测创伤脑组织中伊文思蓝（EB）外渗的量，以EB外渗的量反应BBB通透性的变化；②免疫组化（IHC）和原位杂交（ISH）检测AQP4的表达变化。结果脑损伤后，BBB通透性增加，其增加有两个高峰，分别在TBI后12h和3d，后者尤为更明显。IHC和ISH显示，脑损伤后AQP4在脑组织中的表达逐渐上调，1d达高峰，持续至3d后下降，7d接近SO组水平。AQP4的表达变化与脑组织伊文思蓝（EB）含量的变化呈正相关（r=0．894，P〈0．05）。结论脑损伤后BBB通透性的增加与脑水肿的形成密切相关。TBI后BBB通透性增加，可能与AQP4表达上调有关，两者的变化影响TBI后脑水肿的发生、发展。     

Aquaporins in brain edema

Brain edema is a common feature of brain injuries, which leads to increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and ischemia that worsen outcome. Current management of edema focuses on reduction of ICP, but there are no treatments targeting the molecular players directly involved in edema process. The perivascular astrocyte endfeet are critical in maintaining brain homeostasis with ionic and water exchange; in this context, aquaporins (AQPs), astrocyte water channels, have emerged as privileged targets for edema modulation. However, AQPs can facilitate either accumulation or drainage of water, depending on the osmotic gradients between extra-intracellular space; and thus inhibition of AQPs leads to different outcomes depending on specific tissue characteristics and time post-injury. Most of this knowledge has been gathered from the study of AQP4, the best characterized AQP and the one that has the biggest impact on water movement. In addition to the level of expression, the ratio of AQP4 isoforms (m1, m23 or mz), the spatial distribution of AQP4 into orthogonal arrays of particles, and the interaction of AQP4 with neighboring ionic channels and gap junctions could directly impact edema formation. Although there are no specific AQP4 pharmacological blockers, the development of AQP4 siRNA offers a promising therapeutic tool. Given the complex dynamics of AQP4, therapies targeting AQP4 should carefully take into account the particular features of the injury (e.g., hemorrhagic vs. non-hemorrhagic) and different times after injury (e.g., phase of edema formation vs. resolution).     

AQP4-siRNA alleviates traumatic brain edema by altering post-traumatic AQP4 polarity reversal in TBI rats

The spatial and temporal distribution of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression in rat brain following brain trauma and AQP4-siRNA treatment, as well as corresponding pathological changes, were studied to explore the mechanism underlying the effect of AQP4-siRNA treatment on traumatic brain injury (TBI). The rats in the sham operation group had normal structure, with AQP4 located in the perivascular end-foot membranes and astrocytic membranes in a polarized pattern. The accelerated polarity reversal was observed in the TBI group in 1–12 h after TBI. During this period, AQP4 abundance on the astrocytic membrane is gradually increased, while AQP4 abundance on the perivascular end-foot membrane declined rapidly. Twelve hours after TBI, AQP4 expression was depolarized, showing a shift from the perivascular end-foot membrane to the astrocytic membrane. Pathological observation showed that vasogenic edema occurred immediately after TBI, at which time the extracellular space was expanded, leading to severe intracellular edema. AQP4-siRNA reduced the polarity reversal index at the early stage of TBI recovery and reduced edema, demonstrating the potential benefit of reduced AQP4 expression during recovery from TBI.     

颅脑创伤模型小鼠海马水通道蛋白1表达及作用

研究背景颅脑创伤后继发性脑损伤包括脑组织缺血、缺氧和脑水肿,可进一步加重原发性损伤,影响预后。作为选择性易损区,海马对缺血和水肿尤为敏感,易出现不可逆性损伤。水通道蛋白1(AQP1)与脑水肿的发生关系密切,但迄今尚无颅脑创伤后海马AQP1表达变化及其相关作用的报道。本研究采用闭合性颅脑创伤小鼠模型对海马水肿过程进行观察,以探讨AQP1在相关病理生理学过程中的作用机制。方法采用改良自由落体法建立BALB/c系小鼠闭合性颅脑创伤模型,于创伤后不同观察时间点(1、6、24和72 h)进行神经功能缺损程度评价和脑组织含水量测定,并通过TUNEL法观察海马神经元凋亡率、免疫组织化学染色和Western blotting法检测AQP1表达变化。结果成功制备闭合性颅脑创伤小鼠模型,并经神经功能评价和脑组织含水量测定证实存在重型颅脑创伤和脑水肿。TUNEL检测显示,模型组小鼠伤后6 h海马神经元凋亡率即升高[(44.26±15.18)%对(8.61±8.25)%;t=-9.676,P=0.002],至72 h达峰值水平[(61.62±26.55)%对(10.17±6.08)%;t=-5.018,P=0.015];免疫组织化学染色和Western blotting法观察,模型组小鼠创伤后各观察时间点海马AQP1表达水平均高于假手术组(P0.05),以伤后24 h表达水平最高(0.69±0.32对0.15±0.07,t=-4.335,P=0.023;0.46±0.19对0.14±0.04,t=-4.113,P=0.004)。结论颅脑创伤后小鼠海马AQP1表达上调可能参与了脑水肿和迟发性神经元凋亡等病理生理学过程,AQP1可能成为继发性脑损伤机制研究的新靶点。     

Aquaporins in brain: distribution, physiology, and pathophysiology.

Water homeostasis in the brain is of central physiologic and clinical importance. Neuronal activity and ion water homeostasis are inextricably coupled. For example, the clearance of K+ from areas of high neuronal activity is associated with a concomitant water flux. Furthermore, cerebral edema, a final common pathway of numerous neurologic diseases, including stroke, may rapidly become life threatening because of the rigid encasement of the brain. A water channel family, the aquaporins, facilitates water flux through the plasma membrane of many cell types. In rodent brain, several recent studies have demonstrated the presence of different types of aquaporins. Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) was detected on epithelial cells in the choroid plexus whereas AQP4, AQP5 and AQP9 were localized on astrocytes and ependymal cells. In rodent brain, AQP4 is present on astrocytic end-feet in contact with brain vessels, and AQP9 is found on astrocytic processes and cell bodies. In basal physiologic conditions, AQP4 and AQP9 appear to be implicated in brain homeostasis and in central plasma osmolarity regulation. Aquaporin 4 may also play a role in pathophysiologic conditions, as shown by the reduced edema formation observed after water intoxication and focal cerebral ischemia in AQP4-knockout mice. Furthermore, pathophysiologic conditions may modulate AQP4 and AQP9 expression. For example, AQP4 and AQP9 were shown to be upregulated after ischemia or after traumatic injuries. Taken together, these recent reports suggest that water homeostasis in the brain is maintained by regulatory processes that, by control of aquaporin expression and distribution, induce and organize water movements. Facilitation of these movements may contribute to the development of edema formation after acute cerebral insults such as ischemia or traumatic injury.     

Sulforaphane enhances aquaporin-4 expression and decreases cerebral edema following traumatic brain injury

Brain edema, the infiltration and accumulation of excess fluid causing an increase in brain tissue volume, often leads to a rise in intracranial pressure and is a key contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to the development/resolution of TBI-associated brain edema are poorly understood. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel is expressed at high levels in brain astrocytes, and the bidirectional transport of water through these channels is critical for the maintenance of brain water homeostasis. By using a rodent injury model, we show that TBI decreased AQP4 level in the injury core and modestly increased it in the penumbra region surrounding the core. Postinjury administration of sulforaphane (SUL), an isothiocyanate present in abundance in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, attenuated AQP4 loss in the injury core and further increased AQP4 levels in the penumbra region compared with injured animals receiving vehicle. These increases in AQP4 levels were accompanied by a significant reduction in brain edema (assessed by percentage water content) at 3 days postinjury. These findings suggest that the reduction of brain edema in response to SUL administration could be due, in part, to water clearance by AQP4 from the injured brain.     

High mobility group box protein‐1 promotes cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury via activation of toll‐like receptor 4

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Cerebral edema, a life‐threatening medical complication, contributes to elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) and a poor clinical prognosis after TBI. Unfortunately, treatment options to reduce post‐traumatic edema remain suboptimal, due in part, to a dearth of viable therapeutic targets. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that cerebral innate immune responses contribute to edema development after TBI. Our results demonstrate that high‐mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) was released from necrotic neurons via a NR2B‐mediated mechanism. HMGB1 was clinically associated with elevated ICP in patients and functionally promoted cerebral edema after TBI in mice. The detrimental effects of HMGB1 were mediated, at least in part, via activation of microglial toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the subsequent expression of the astrocytic water channel, aquaporin‐4 (AQP4). Genetic or pharmacological (VGX‐1027) TLR4 inhibition attenuated the neuroinflammatory response and limited post‐traumatic edema with a delayed, clinically implementable therapeutic window. Human and rodent tissue culture studies further defined the cellular mechanisms demonstrating neuronal HMGB1 initiates the microglial release of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in a TLR4 dependent mechanism. In turn, microglial IL‐6 increased the astrocytic expression of AQP4. Taken together, these data implicate microglia as key mediators of post‐traumatic brain edema and suggest HMGB1‐TLR4 signaling promotes neurovascular dysfunction after TBI. GLIA 2013;62:26–38     

盐酸纳美芬对大鼠颅脑损伤后脑水肿的影响

目的探讨盐酸纳美芬对大鼠颅脑损伤后脑水肿的影响。方法将54只Wistar大鼠按随机数字表法随机分为假手术组、颅脑损伤组及纳美芬治疗组。采用自由落体法建立大鼠颅脑损伤模型,分别于伤后6 h、1 d、3 d、7 d,采用干湿重法检测脑组织含水量,应用免疫组织化学法检测损伤脑组织中水通道蛋白4（AQP4）的表达。结果与假手术组比较,颅脑损伤组和纳美芬治疗组的脑组织含水量及AQP4水平明显升高（P〈0.05）;与颅脑损伤组相比,纳美芬治疗组脑组织含水量及AQP4表达水平明显降低（P〈0.05）。通过相关性分析发现,大鼠颅脑损伤后脑组织AQP4表达水平与脑含水量呈明显正相关性（r=0.676,P〈0.01）。结论盐酸纳美芬可能通过抑制AQP4表达,减轻脑水肿,发挥神经保护作用。     

Effects of Aquaporin-4 on edema formation following intracerebral hemorrhage

ObjectiveIntracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) constitutes 10% to 15% of all strokes and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. To date, little is known about the role of AQP4 (Aquaporin-4), which is abundantly expressed in pericapillary astrocyte foot processes and in edema formation after intracerebral hemorrhage. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of AQP4 in edema formation after ICH by using AQP4^?/? mice.MethodsICH was induced by microinjecting 5 µl autologous whole blood into the striatum of AQP4^+/+ and AQP4^?/? mice. We compared neurological deficits, brain edema contents of whole hemorrhagic ipsilateral hemisphere, specific gravity of brain tissue surrounding hematoma, Evans blue leakage and ultrastructure of brain microvessels between AQP4^+/+ and AQP4^?/? mice following ICH. Histological changes were also detected with Nissl's staining and TUNEL staining.ResultsOur experiments showed a significant increase of AQP4 expression following ICH in AQP4^+/+ mice. AQP4 deletion aggravated neurological deficits and brain edema contents of whole hemorrhagic ipsilateral hemisphere. Besides, it also reduced the specific gravity of brain tissue surrounding hematoma. Moreover, it enhanced Evans blue leakage and ultrastructure of brain microvessel damage. Histology also showed less Nissl's staining and more TUNEL staining in AQP4^?/? mice following ICH.ConclusionsThese results suggest that AQP4 deletion increases ICH damage, including edema formation, blood–brain barrier damage and neuronal death/TUNEL-positive cells. Further studies on the protective role of activated AQP4 expression following ICH may provide useful therapeutic target for ICH-induced brain injury.     

水通道蛋白4小RNA干扰技术优化亚低温治疗脑水肿

目的 应用针对靶向水通道蛋白4(aquapofin 4,AQP-4)的小RNA(siRNA)干扰技术优化亚低温减轻颅脑创伤(traumatic brain injury,TBI)后脑水肿程度的治疗效果.方法 构建沉默AQP-4 mRNA表达的siRNA质粒;液压打击法建立大鼠TBI模型,分TBI对照组、AQP-4 siRNA治疗组、亚低温治疗组、AQP-4 siRNA及亚低温联合治疗组;提取第1、3、5、7天脑组织总RNA和总蛋白,RT-PCR和Western blot方法 检测AQP-4的mRNA和蛋白表达水平;干/湿比重法和Evans蓝测定法观察大鼠TBI后不同时相脑组织含水量和血脑屏障通透性改变;实验动物予以神经功能缺陷综合评分.结果 亚低温在减轻TBI后脑水肿程度方面优于AQP-4 siRNA,但siRNA技术在沉默AQP-4表达方面强于亚低温,联合应用AQP-4 siRNA和亚低温在TBI后降低脑水肿程度方面获得最佳治疗效果.结论 靶向AQP-4的Si RNA干扰技术可优化亚低温在TBI后降低脑水肿方面的治疗效果.     

Gliovascular changes precede white matter damage and long‐term disorders in juvenile mild closed head injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of hospital visits in pediatric patients and often leads to long‐term disorders even in cases of mild severity. White matter (WM) alterations are commonly observed in patients months or years after the injury assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but little is known about WM pathophysiology early after mild pediatric TBI. To evaluate the status of the gliovascular unit in this context, mild TBI was induced in postnatal‐day 17 mice using a closed head injury model with two grades of severity (G1, G2). G2 resulted in significant WM edema (increased T2‐signal) and BBB damage (IgG‐extravasation immunostaining) whereas decreased T2 and the increased levels of astrocytic water‐channel AQP4 were observed in G1 mice 1 day post‐injury. Both severities induced astrogliosis (GFAP immunolabeling). No changes in myelin and neurofilament were detected at this acute time point. One month after injury G2 mice exhibited diffusion tensor imaging MRI alterations (decreased fractional anisotropy) accompanied by decreased neurofilament staining in the WM. Both severities induced behavioral impairments at this time point. In conclusion, long‐term deficits and WM changes similar to those found after clinical TBI are preceded by distinct early gliovascular phenotype alterations after juvenile mild TBI, revealing AQP4 as a potential candidate for severity‐based treatments.     

局灶性脑低温处理对大鼠创伤性脑损伤模型的保护作用

目的探讨局灶性低温处理对SD大鼠创伤性脑损伤（TBI）模型的保护作用并探讨其相关机制。 方法将15只雄性SD大鼠随机平均分成假手术组（sham）,非冷却组（non-cooling）和冷却组（cooling）。Non-cooling组和cooling组制作TBI模型,3组实验同步进行,创伤后低温处理3 h,复温3 h,过程中检测大鼠血气、皮层脑电。复温结束处死大鼠后,对脑组织进行TTC和HE染色以评价脑死亡和脑水肿情况,Western blot检测相关机制蛋白表达情况。 结果Sham组和non-cooling组受外部刺激脑组织代谢升高,cooling组较其他组脑组织代谢低,TTC和HE染色显示cooling组脑死亡的面积和细胞死亡数量均少于non-cooling组,差异均具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。大鼠TBI后局灶性低温处理能显著降低大脑皮层的癫痫样棘波,在回温时这种不完全抑制持续存在,且低温处理降低了GABA_B1R蛋白的表达,差异均具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。Cooling组的脑水肿情况较non-cooling组轻,且cooling组AQP4蛋白表达降低,差异均具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论局灶性低温处理对TBI大鼠具有保护作用,能显著减轻TBI引起的脑水肿,抑制大脑皮层的癫痫样棘波,具体机制可能分别与GABA_B1R和AQP4相关。为临床治疗TBI提供了一种更加安全、简单有效的方法。     

Neuroprotection Trials in Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Current treatment of acute TBI includes surgical intervention when needed, followed by supportive critical care such as optimizing cerebral perfusion, preventing pyrexia, and treating raised intracranial pressure. While effective in managing the primary injury to the brain and skull, these treatment modalities do not address the complex secondary cascades that occur at a cellular level following initial injury and greatly affect the ultimate neurologic outcome. These secondary processes involve changes in ionic flux, disruption of cellular function, derangement of blood flow and the blood-brain barrier, and elevated levels of free radicals. Over the past few decades, numerous pharmacologic agents and modalities have been investigated in an attempt to interrupt these secondary processes. No neuroprotective agents currently exist that have been proven to improve neurologic outcome following TBI. However, these trials have contributed significantly to the understanding of the clinical sequelae of TBI and to improvements in the quality of care for TBI. With the experience and insights that have been accrued with the trials to date, we will be able to optimize future trial designs and refine established neurologic endpoints to better identify new therapeutic agents and further improve neurologic outcomes from this often devastating condition.     

Translocator protein (18 kDa) TSPO: An emerging therapeutic target in neurotrauma

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces physical, cognitive, and psychosocial deficits that affect millions of patients. TBI activates numerous cellular mechanisms and molecular cascades that produce detrimental outcomes, including neuronal death and loss of function. The mitochondrion is one of the major targets of TBI, as seen by increased mitochondrial activity in activated and proliferating microglia (due to high energy requirements and/or calcium overload) as well as increased reactive oxygen species, changes in mitochondrial permeability transition, release of cytochrome c, caspase activation, reduced ATP levels, and cell death in neurons. Translocator protein (TSPO) is an 18-kDa outer mitochondrial membrane protein that interacts with the mitochondria permeability transition pore and binds with high affinity to cholesterol and various classes of drug ligands, including some benzodiazepines such as 4′-chlorodiazepam (Ro5-4864). Although TSPO levels in the brain are low, they are increased after brain injury and inflammation. This finding has led to the proposed use of TSPO expression as a marker of brain injury and repair. TSPO drug ligands have been shown to participate in the control of mitochondrial respiration and function, mitochondrial steroid and neurosteroid formation, as well as apoptosis. This review and commentary will outline our current knowledge of the benefits of targeting TSPO for TBI treatment and the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of TSPO drug ligands in neurotrauma.     

Neuroprotective effect of ceftriaxone in a rat model of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and disability in children and young adults worldwide. Neurologic impairment is caused by both immediate brain tissue disruption and post-injury cellular and molecular events that worsen the primary neurologic insult. The β-lactam antibiotic ceftriaxone (CTX) has been reported to induce neuroprotection in animal models of diverse neurologic diseases via up-regulation of GLT-1. However, no studies have addressed the neuroprotective role of CTX in the setting of TBI, and whether the mechanism is involved in the modulation of neuronal autophagy remains totally unclear. The present study was designed to determine the hypothesis that administration of CTX could significantly enhance functional recovery in a rat model of TBI and whether CTX treatment could up-regulate GLT-1 expression and suppress post-TBI neuronal autophagy. The results demonstrated that daily treatment with CTX attenuated TBI-induced brain edema and cognitive function deficits in rats. GLT-1 is down-regulated following TBI and this phenomenon can be reversed by treatment of CTX. In addition, we also found that CTX significantly reduced autophagy marker protein, LC3 II, in hippocampus compared to the TBI group. These results suggest that CTX might provide a new therapeutic strategy for TBI and this protection might be associated with up-regulation of GLT-1 and suppression of neuronal autophagy.     

Lack of Aquaporin 9 Reduces Brain Angiogenesis and Exaggerates Neuronal Loss in the Hippocampus Following Intracranial Hemorrhage in Mice

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a common subtype of stroke with high morbidity and mortality. However, few clinical therapies that can reduce ICH-induced brain injury and promote the recovery outcome in ICH patients are available to improve the recovery from ICH. Given that aquaporin 9 (AQP9) plays a critical role in brain edema after ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury and is involved in the regulation of angiogenesis, we examined the role of AQP9 in preventing neuronal loss and in neovascularization in the dorsal hippocampus (DH) after ICH. We found that intra-DH collagenase-induced ICH increased AQP9 protein levels in the hippocampus, which was associated with behavioral deficits in wild-type mice. However, ICH robustly enhanced behavioral deficits in the AQP9-null mice, as compared with the wild-type mice. Furthermore, neovascularization and proliferation of brain microvascular endothelial cells following ICH were severely impaired in the AQP9-null mice, as compared with the wild-type mice. Finally, hippocampal neuronal loss following ICH became severer in the AQP9-null mice, relative to the wild-type mice. Taken together, our findings indicated that AQP9 in the brain may play a compensatory role in response to ICH, promote brain angiogenesis, and prevent subsequent neuronal death, thus preventing the deterioration of neurological outcome of ICH.     

K channel impairment determines sex and age differences in epinephrine‐mediated outcomes after brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of injury‐related death in children, with boys and children under 4 years having particularly poor outcomes. Activation of ATP‐ and calcium‐sensitive (K_ATP and K_Ca) channels produces cerebrovasodilation and contributes to autoregulation, both of which are impaired after TBI, contributing to poor outcomes. Upregulation of the c‐Jun‐terminal kinase (JNK) isoform of mitogen‐activated protein kinase produces K channel function impairment after CNS injury. Vasoactive agents can be used to normalize cerebral perfusion pressure. Epinephrine (EPI) prevents impairment of cerebral autoregulation and hippocampal neuronal cell necrosis after TBI in female and male newborn and female juvenile but not male juvenile pigs via differential modulation of JNK. The present study used anesthetized pigs equipped with a closed cranial window to address the hypothesis that differential K channel impairment contributes to age and sex differences in EPI‐mediated outcomes after brain injury. Results show that pial artery dilation in response to the K_ATP and K_Ca channel agonists cromakalim and NS 1619 was impaired after TBI and that such impairment was prevented by EPI in female and male newborn and female juvenile but not male juvenile pigs. Using vasodilation as an index of function, these data indicate that EPI protects cerebral autoregulation and limits histopathology after TBI through protection of K channel function via blockade of JNK in an age‐ and sex‐dependent manner. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.