Multidimensional assessment of motor dysfunction in the acute phase of traumatic brain injury in mice:temporal behavior changes and dynamic glial responses
WANG Jiaming
ZHAO Jiqian
YANG Dingding
CAI Guohong
HUANG Jing
WU Shengxi
Abstract：Objective To investigate the changes in motor behavior and the dynamic change patterns of various glial cells in the injury area during the acute phase of traumatic brain injury(TBI)in mice.Methods A controlled cortical impact model was established using adult male C57BL/6 mice,with an impact depth of 2 mm and an impact velocity of 5 m/s.Four groups were established:a sham group and groups at 1,3,and 7 d post-injury(TBI-1 d,TBI-3 d,TBI-7 d).To assess motor function changes,the rotarod test,CatWalk automated gait analysis,and 3D behavioral analysis were performed.Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of GFAP,Iba1,and PDGFRα to observe changes in various glial cells.Results The rotarod test results showed that the balance and coordination ability of mice in the TBI-1 d group significantly decreased(P＜0.01),partially recovered in the TBI-3 d group(P＜0.01),and further recovered in the TBI-7 d group(P＜0.01),but still did not fully return to the level of the sham group(P＜0.01).CatWalk analysis revealed that gait parameters such as speed and paw contact area were significantly abnormal in the TBI-1 d group(P＜0.01),with the most pronounced impairment in the TBI-3 d group(P＜0.01),and partial recovery in the TBI-7 d group.The 3D behavioral analysis results indicated decreased limb speed and locomotor energy in the TBI-1 d group;locomotor energy partially recovered in the TBI-3 d group(P＜0.05);some kinematic parameters continued to improve in the TBI-7 d group but still did not reach the level of the sham group(P＜0.01).Immunofluorescence staining results showed that GFAP expression was upregulated in the TBI-1 d group(P＜0.01)and peaked in the TBI-7 d group(P＜0.01).The expression of Iba1 and PDGFRα was significantly upregulated in the TBI-1 d and TBI-3 d groups(P＜0.01),decreased in the TBI-7 d group but remained higher than in the sham group.Western blotting results showed that GFAP expression was upregulated in the TBI-1 d group and peaked in the TBI-7 d group(P＜0.01);Iba1 expression was significantly upregulated in the TBI-3 d group(P＜0.01),decreased in the TBI-7 d group but remained higher than in the sham group(P＜0.01);PDGFRα expression was significantly upregulated in the TBI-3 d group(P＜0.05)and decreased in the TBI-7 d group.Conclusion Mice exhibit significant motor deficits during the acute phase of TBI.The differential expression of astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocyte precursor cells across different stages shows a strong correlation with the observed behavioral changes,providing experimental evidence for elucidating neurological dysfunction and repair mechanisms following TBI.
Keywords：traumatic brain injuryacute phasegait analysisthree-dimensional imagingastrocytesmicrogliaoligodendrogliaoligodendrocyte precursor cells
Publication Date：2026-02-28
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-26(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：11( 200-210 )