Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on neurological behavior and VEGF expression in rats following traumatic brain injury

Objective To explore the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on neurological behavior and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rats with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups, ie, control group, TBI group ( a 50 g weight-drop device was employed and fell from 30 cm height to induce the injury) and hyperbaric oxygen group ( HBO group,treated with hyperbaric oxygen once per day for seven days after TBI), 10 rats per group. Neurological severity score (NSS) was used to evaluate the movement and balance impairment in all groups. Expression of VEGF was detected by means of immunocytochemical staining.Results After TBI, the rats presented different degrees of convulsions, paralysis and balance dysfunction. The NSS score was (5.6 ±1.1 ) points in the TBI group and (0.3 ± O. 1 ) in the control group, with statistical difference ( P ＜0.05). While NSS score was (3.7 ± O. 7) points in the HBO group, showing a significant decrease compared with that in the TBI group (P ＜ 0. O1 ). Immunohistochemical staining showed 15 ± 3 positive neurons of VEGF in the TBI group, significantly less than 27 ± 2 in the control group ( P ＜ 0.05 ). There were 21 ±2 positive neurons of VEGF in the HBO group, significantly less than 21 ±2 in the TBI group (P ＜0.05). Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen may attenuate experimental traumatic brain injury by stimulating production of VEGF. Key words: Brain injuries;  Hyperbaric oxygen;  Rats