Effects of altitude changes on mild‑to‑moderate closed‑head injury in rats following acute high‑altitude exposure

  • Authors:
    • Hao Wang
    • Xiyan Zhu
    • Hongyi Xiang
    • Zhikang Liao
    • Mou Gao
    • Yetao Luo
    • Pengfei Wu
    • Yihua Zhang
    • Mingliang Ren
    • Hui Zhao
    • Minhui Xu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 27, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.7020
  • Pages: 847-856
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Abstract

Mild‑to‑moderate closed‑head injury (mmCHI) is an acute disease induced by high‑altitudes. It is general practice to transfer patients to lower altitudes for treatment, but the pathophysiological changes at different altitudes following mmCHI remain unknown. The present study simulated acute high‑altitude exposure (6,000 m above sea level) in rats to establish a model of mmCHI and recorded their vital signs. The rats were then randomly assigned into different altitude exposure groups (6,000, 4,500 and 3,000 m) and neurological severity score (NSS), body weight (BW), brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), brain water content (BWC) and the ratio of BW/BWC at 6, 12 and 24 h following mmCHI, and the glial fibrillary acidic protein levels were analysed in all groups. The results revealed that within the first 24 h following acute high‑altitude exposure, mmCHI induced dehydration, brain oedema and neuronal damage. Brain injury in rats was significantly reversed following descent to 4,500 m compared with the results from 6,000 or 3,000 m. The results indicated that subjects should be transported as early as possible. Furthermore, avoiding large‑span descent altitude was beneficial to reduce neurological impairment. The examination of brain‑specific biomarkers and MRI may further be useful in determining the prognosis of high‑altitude mmCHI. These results may provide guidance for rescuing high altitude injuries.
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January-2019
Volume 17 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Wang H, Zhu X, Xiang H, Liao Z, Gao M, Luo Y, Wu P, Zhang Y, Ren M, Zhao H, Zhao H, et al: Effects of altitude changes on mild‑to‑moderate closed‑head injury in rats following acute high‑altitude exposure. Exp Ther Med 17: 847-856, 2019
APA
Wang, H., Zhu, X., Xiang, H., Liao, Z., Gao, M., Luo, Y. ... Xu, M. (2019). Effects of altitude changes on mild‑to‑moderate closed‑head injury in rats following acute high‑altitude exposure. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 17, 847-856. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.7020
MLA
Wang, H., Zhu, X., Xiang, H., Liao, Z., Gao, M., Luo, Y., Wu, P., Zhang, Y., Ren, M., Zhao, H., Xu, M."Effects of altitude changes on mild‑to‑moderate closed‑head injury in rats following acute high‑altitude exposure". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 17.1 (2019): 847-856.
Chicago
Wang, H., Zhu, X., Xiang, H., Liao, Z., Gao, M., Luo, Y., Wu, P., Zhang, Y., Ren, M., Zhao, H., Xu, M."Effects of altitude changes on mild‑to‑moderate closed‑head injury in rats following acute high‑altitude exposure". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 17, no. 1 (2019): 847-856. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.7020