Approachability and Sensory Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Pigs

Background/Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global healthcare concern affecting millions, with wide-ranging symptoms including sensory and behavioral changes that can persist long-term. Due to similarities with human brain cytoarchitecture and inflammation, minipig models are advantageo...

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Main Authors: Mark Pavlichenko, Radina L. Lilova, Amanda Logan-Wesley, Karen M. Gorse, Audrey D. Lafrenaye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2427
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author Mark Pavlichenko
Radina L. Lilova
Amanda Logan-Wesley
Karen M. Gorse
Audrey D. Lafrenaye
author_facet Mark Pavlichenko
Radina L. Lilova
Amanda Logan-Wesley
Karen M. Gorse
Audrey D. Lafrenaye
author_sort Mark Pavlichenko
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global healthcare concern affecting millions, with wide-ranging symptoms including sensory and behavioral changes that can persist long-term. Due to similarities with human brain cytoarchitecture and inflammation, minipig models are advantageous for translational TBI research. However, gaps in knowledge exist regarding their behavioral and sensory sequelae following injury. Methods: Therefore, in this study, we assessed changes in approachability using a forced human approach task (FHAT) and mechanical nociception using the von Frey test in adult male and female Yucatan minipigs for up to one week following a sham or central fluid percussion injury (cFPI). Specifically, the FHAT assessed each animal’s response to a forced interaction with either a known or unknown experimenter. To evaluate changes in nociceptive sensory sensitivity, von Frey monofilaments ranging from 0.008 to 300 g of force were applied to the pinna of the ear or base of the tail. Results: We found that forced approachability was affected by experimenter familiarity as well as cFPI in a sex-specific manner at subacute timepoints. We also found reductions in sensitivity following cFPI on the ear in male minipigs and on the tail in female minipigs. Conclusion: Overall, the current study demonstrates that cFPI produces both behavioral and sensory changes in minipigs up to one-week post-injury.
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spelling doaj-art-4f8aeff94da44ff4ab41c6247d4f6c222024-11-26T17:52:39ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-10-011211242710.3390/biomedicines12112427Approachability and Sensory Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in PigsMark Pavlichenko0Radina L. Lilova1Amanda Logan-Wesley2Karen M. Gorse3Audrey D. Lafrenaye4Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USADepartment of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USADepartment of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USADepartment of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USADepartment of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USABackground/Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global healthcare concern affecting millions, with wide-ranging symptoms including sensory and behavioral changes that can persist long-term. Due to similarities with human brain cytoarchitecture and inflammation, minipig models are advantageous for translational TBI research. However, gaps in knowledge exist regarding their behavioral and sensory sequelae following injury. Methods: Therefore, in this study, we assessed changes in approachability using a forced human approach task (FHAT) and mechanical nociception using the von Frey test in adult male and female Yucatan minipigs for up to one week following a sham or central fluid percussion injury (cFPI). Specifically, the FHAT assessed each animal’s response to a forced interaction with either a known or unknown experimenter. To evaluate changes in nociceptive sensory sensitivity, von Frey monofilaments ranging from 0.008 to 300 g of force were applied to the pinna of the ear or base of the tail. Results: We found that forced approachability was affected by experimenter familiarity as well as cFPI in a sex-specific manner at subacute timepoints. We also found reductions in sensitivity following cFPI on the ear in male minipigs and on the tail in female minipigs. Conclusion: Overall, the current study demonstrates that cFPI produces both behavioral and sensory changes in minipigs up to one-week post-injury.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2427traumatic brain injurypigfluid percussion injurybehaviormechanical nociceptionsensory
spellingShingle Mark Pavlichenko
Radina L. Lilova
Amanda Logan-Wesley
Karen M. Gorse
Audrey D. Lafrenaye
Approachability and Sensory Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Pigs
Biomedicines
traumatic brain injury
pig
fluid percussion injury
behavior
mechanical nociception
sensory
title Approachability and Sensory Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Pigs
title_full Approachability and Sensory Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Pigs
title_fullStr Approachability and Sensory Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Pigs
title_full_unstemmed Approachability and Sensory Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Pigs
title_short Approachability and Sensory Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Pigs
title_sort approachability and sensory changes following mild traumatic brain injury in pigs
topic traumatic brain injury
pig
fluid percussion injury
behavior
mechanical nociception
sensory
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2427
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AT amandaloganwesley approachabilityandsensorychangesfollowingmildtraumaticbraininjuryinpigs
AT karenmgorse approachabilityandsensorychangesfollowingmildtraumaticbraininjuryinpigs
AT audreydlafrenaye approachabilityandsensorychangesfollowingmildtraumaticbraininjuryinpigs