Characteristics of structural and functional alterations following traumatic brain injury in neurons and glial cells of the sensorimotor cortex

Introduction and Aim: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is regarded as a significant worldwide health issue and a significant contributor to mortality and disability. The objective of this study was to examine the parameters and nature of the regenerative and destructive processes that occur in the rat cerebral cortex depending on the degree and time of the TBI. Materials and Methods: The experiments were carried out on 24 sexless adult mice weighing 180–220 g. The primary group of mice had severe TBI. To assess the severity of the TBI model, histological data, animal survival rates, and motor and cognitive dysfunctions were examined. Both light and electron microscopy were used to study the animal brains in each group. Results: The areas of injury were filled with blood, and microscopic examination revealed that the foci of contusion had destroyed brain tissue in the form of tissue and blood vessel fragments. Most dystrophic neuronal changes in mice with severe TBI between 1 and 21 days after the injury were acute neuronal swelling, hydropic dystrophy of nerve cells with clear cytoplasmic vacuolization, localized and complete chromatolysis, hyperchromatism, and homogeneous cytoplasm. Conclusion: Brain tissue lesions develop in the early stages of a TBI through rapid necrotic cell death.