Alcohol and TBI - prophylactic treatment of long-term symptoms of blast-induced traumatic brain injury

INTRODUCTION: Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized by both immediate and long term symptoms that are hypothesized to result from hyper-excitation. The use of a neural depressant as a prophylactic protective measure in mice exposed to blast-induced TBI was evaluated.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to determine if ethanol can decrease the long-term symptoms associated with TBI.

METHODS: Mice were either orally gavaged 95% ethanol or saline prior to blast-pressure wave exposure. Animals were exposed to a blast-pressure wave at 20 psi. Pre and post-blast exposure, animals were assessed for tinnitus, depression, and motor abilities via behavioral experiments.

RESULTS: Motor function was not affected in any of the experimental animals (control and treatment groups). Blast-exposed animals showed signs of depression and tinnitus. The ethanol treated group showed a significant decrease in symptom formation.

CONCLUSION: Ethanol has a prophylactic protective effect if administered immediately prior to a blast-pressure wave exposure. It is plausible the protective effect is caused by decreasing the influence of the cortical hyperexcitation symptoms thus decreasing secondary damage associated with blast induced TBI.