Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB) after brain trauma in rats using IgG immunohistochemical staining.MethodsAn impact-acceleration head injury model was established with rats. Histological changes of rats' brains were observed by HE staining and light and electron microscopes at 1 h, 6 h, 24 h and 7 d after injury, and BBB permeability was analyzed semi-quantitatively by IgG immunohistochemical staining at the same time points.ResultsThe spot bleeding and brain edema was present in the damage region after brain trauma and endothelial cell damage and astrocyte swelling could be found under electron microscope. The extravasations of IgG was detected in the injured hemisphere of rats at 1 h, and achieved the peak at 6 h, remained a high level up to 24 h, and decreased at 7th d.ConclusionThe disruption of BBB function occurs after brain trauma in rats, and detection of IgG extravasations tested by immunohistochemical staining is a simple and sensitive way to investigate BBB permeability.

Key words: brain trauma, blood-brain barrier, immunoglobulin G (IgG), rat