[Pathological changes in rabbit brain after traumatic head injuries with seawater immersion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the pathological impact of seawater on rabbit brain tissue with severe traumatic injury. METHODS: Modified rabbit models of severe brain injury was utilized, in which the damaged brain tissues were subjected to immersion with fresh seawater for 30 min. A control group was set up in which the trauma was induced without subsequent seawater immersion. Tissue sampling was performed at the brain injury sites at 0, 3, 8 h after seawater immersion and the pathological changes in the brain tissues were observed by means of HE staining. RESULTS: Severe traumatic brain edema occurred in both of the two groups, but the onset time of edema differed. In the control group, brain edema was obvious at 3 h after treatment and hardly aggravated at hour 8; while in seawater treatment group, severe brain edema occurred at 8 h after the treatment and aggravated progressively. CONCLUSION: Seawater immersion delays the onset and peak of traumatic brain edema following severe brain injuries, but can eventually aggravate the traumatic edema.