Table 2 Experimental rodent models of closed-head injury
Model | Species | Injury | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Weight-drop models | ||||
Feeney's weight-drop Shohami's weight-drop Marmarou's weight-drop | rat [22] | predominantly focal predominantly focal predominantly diffuse | injury mechanism and inflicted injury is close to human TBI severity of injury can be adjusted well characterized neuroscoring immediately after injury allows randomization | high mortality rate due to apnea and skull fractures not highly reproducible |
FP models | ||||
MFP LFP | mixed mixed | severity of injury can be adjusted inflicted injury is highly reproducible within one laboratory | requires craniotomy that may compensate for ICP increases no immediate post-injury neuroscoring possible inflicted injury is variable between laboratories high mortality rate due to apnea | |
CCI | rat [72], mouse [73] | predominantly focal | severity of injury can be adjusted inflicted injury is highly reproducible | requires craniotomy no immediate post-injury neuroscoring |
Cryogenic brain lesion | focal | severity of injury can be adjusted inflicted injury is highly reproducible and easily quantifiable | mimics only conditionally human TBI | |