TEMPORAL WINDOW OF METABOLIC BRAIN VULNERABILITY TO CONCUSSIONS

Abstract

This study shows the remarkable negative contribution of reactive oxygen species overproduction and activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase in repeat mTBI. Because these effects were maximal when mTBIs were spaced by 3 days, it can be inferred that occurrence of a second mTBI within the temporal window of brain vulnerability not only causes profound derangement of mitochondrial functions, but also induces sustained oxidative and nitrosative stresses. Both phenomena certainly play a major role in the overall brain tissue damage occurring under these pathological conditions.