Journal Article

FZJ-2026-04877

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png A Mouse Model of Single and Repetitive Rotational Closed Head Concussive Brain Injury

Demir, S. ; Rautenberg, N. ; Norpoth, N. ; Park, S. ; Konrad, J.FZJ* ; Merkel, R.FZJ* ; Schroeter, M. ; Fink, G. R.FZJ* ; Rueger, M. A. ; Blaschke, S. (Corresponding author)

2026
JoVE Cambridge, MA

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3791/70994

Abstract: Concussive brain injury (CBI), the pathophysiological substrate underlying clinicalconcussion, is a frequent yet insufficiently understood condition with potential longtermneurological impairment in a subset of patients. Especially repetitive CBI, i.e., incontact sports, has been associated with lasting cognitive deficits and progressiveneurodegeneration (e.g., chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE). To address thisknowledge gap, a reproducible mouse model of closed-head rotational brain injury thatrecapitulates key biomechanical and pathological features of CBI was established. Astereotactically guided electromagnetic impactor was used to deliver a standardizedstrike to the intact skull. To reduce focal strain on the skull and adjacent brain tissue,the impactor tip was fitted with a custom-made silicone cap. This configurationreliably induced head rotation with low inter-animal variability while preventing skullfractures or microscopic tissue injury. To preserve physiological neuronal and vascularactivity and to avoid potentially neuromodulatory effects of deep anesthesia, braininjury was induced in conscious mice under light sedation using the α2-agonistmedetomidine. The induced impacts caused reproducible rotational head motionwith only minor variability attributable to head positioning. Structural brain integritywas assessed using in vivo T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and confirmedby ex vivo histological analyses, which revealed no evidence of tissue disruption,contusion, or microbleeds but demonstrated a mild, widespread disruption of themicrovascular interface. This novel model of rotational closed-head brain injuryprovides a robust experimental platform for longitudinal investigations of subtleneurovascular, inflammatory, and blood-brain barrier alterations that occur in theabsence of overt structural pathology. Its application enables mechanistic insightsinto the pathophysiology of clinical concussion and potential neurodegenerativeconsequences of repetitive injury, thereby facilitating the development of urgentlyneeded clinical biomarkers.

Note: This work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; German Research Foundation): Project-ID 431549029 – SFB 1451. S.D. received a stipend from the Gerok-Program (Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne).

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Kognitive Neurowissenschaften (INM-3)
2. Mechanobiologie (IBI-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 5251 - Multilevel Brain Organization and Variability (POF4-525) (POF4-525)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)431549029 - SFB 1451 Schlüsselmechanismen normaler und krankheitsbedingt gestörter motorischer Kontrolle (431549029) (431549029)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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