Figure 3

Neuronal loss and apoptosis is induced by mTBI in cerebral cortex ipsilateral to injury and mitigated by 3,6′-dithiothalidomide. At 72 h post injury, cerebral cortex ipsilateral to mTBI was assessed for cellular changes. (A) and (B) A decline in neuronal number indicative of neuronal loss (NeuN - green) was evident post mTBI (p < 0.01). Treatment with 3,6′-dithiothalidomide at 1 h post-injury prevented such a change. (A) and (C) An elevation in BID (a marker for apoptosis - red) was evident within mTBI brains (p < 0.001). No changes in apoptotic cell death were found in animals that were treated with 3,6′-dithiothalidomide (as compared to sham animals). Within (A) (representative sections within the cerebral cortex), the bar is equal to 20 μm in length.