Diffuse neuronal perikaryal amyloid precursor protein immunoreactivity in an ovine model of non-accidental head injury (the shaken baby syndrome).

Abstract

Non-accidental head injury ("shaken baby syndrome") is a major cause of death and disability in infants and young children, but it is uncertain whether shaking alone is sufficient to cause brain damage or an additional head impact is required. Accordingly, we used manual shaking in an ovine model in an attempt to answer this question since lambs have a relatively large gyrencephalic brain and weak neck muscles resembling a human infant. Neuronal perikaryal and axonal reactions were quantified 6 hours after shaking using amyloid precursor protein (APP) immunohistochemistry. Neuronal perikaryal APP was widely distributed in the brain and spinal cord, the first time such a diffuse neuronal stress response after shaking has been demonstrated, but axonal immunoreactivity was minimal and largely confined to the rostral cervical spinal cord at the site of maximal loading. No ischaemic-hypoxic damage was found in haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections.

• Authors: John W Finnie, Jim Manavis, Peter C Blumbergs
• Journal: Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (J Clin Neurosci) Vol. 17 Issue 2 Pg. 237-40 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 1532-2653 [Electronic] Scotland
• PMID: 20036546 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Crown Copyright 2009. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
• Biomarkers

Topics

• Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor (analysis, metabolism)
• Animals
• Axons (metabolism, pathology)
• Biomarkers (analysis, metabolism)
• Brain (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Brain Injuries (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Diffuse Axonal Injury (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Immunohistochemistry
• Nerve Degeneration (etiology, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Neurons (metabolism, pathology)
• Shaken Baby Syndrome (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Sheep, Domestic