Figure 1

Sensorimotor function is aggravated following traumatic axonal injury combined with 30 min hypoxia. Graphics show changes observed over 14 days for the 3 tests employed: (A) Rotarod, (B) beam walking and (C) adhesive tape removal from the front paws. Animals were trained for these tasks for 7 days before trauma, and then tested daily for 6 days after surgery and on every second day until 14 days. $ indicates significant decrease in motor function on the Rotarod, and increase in beam walking deficit score and latency of adhesive tape removal between TAI and sham animals, while # indicates significant difference in these tests between TAI+Hx and sham animals. Numbers in (A) represent the p-values indicating significant differences between TAI and TAI+Hx at days 2, 5 and 6; and close to significant at day 1. The results indicate that TAI+Hx rats require a longer period for neurological recovery towards sham levels, with significant differences between TAI and TAI+Hx rats in the Rotarod test during the first 6 days post-injury. Although a similar deficit on the tape removal test was observed in TAI and TAI+Hx groups versus sham in the first 5 days, TAI+Hx rats exhibited prolonged impairment over sham controls at 6 and 12 days. Data shown as mean ± SEM, n = 10 per group per time point. Data was analysed by 2-way ANOVA repeated measures with Bonferroni post hoc test, with a p-value of < 0.05 considered significant.