INTRODUCTION

Recent neuropathological investigation of brain injury has focused on selective neuronal damage, particularly of the hippocampus following transient forebrain hypoxia/ischemia. Following a focal impact trauma to the rat sensorimotor cortex (SMCX) there is a cascade of neuropathological sequalae (3,6). These events result in a focal contusion of SMCX, a slow developing panecrotic cyst near the impact and selective neuronal injury in subcortical areas (6) There are few studies of neuronal survival at the site of focal traumatic brain injury (TBI) the subject of this study . We hypothesize two possible mechanisms for the panecrosis at the impact site:

phagocytosis of neurons injured by the mechanical forces and/or "Secondary Neurological Injury" occurring in 6-8 hours after injury
"Tertiary Neuronal Injury", neuronal death occurring days to weeks after stroke or TBI

Poster Title Page | Methods | Results | Conclusion