Abstract

A common pathology in Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is brain edema that develops within hours of impact. It causes increased intracranial pressure (ICP), and nerve damage. It was shown that Walnut kernel (WK) has a large amount of phenolic compounds with beneficial effects on human health due to antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of WK feeding on brain edema, neurological score and neuronal degeneration in male rat after traumatic brain injury.
The diffuse TBI was induced in adult male rats using Marmarou’s method. Sixty days prior to the injury, WK was added to ordinary food (6% percent of daily food). Experimental groups are included sham (no TBI and no WK), control (TBI and no WK) and treatment (TBI and WK). Brain edema and neuronal injury were measured 72 h after TBI. Veterinary Coma Scale (VCS) and ICP were assessed at -1, 4, 24, 48 and 72 h after TBI.
Brain water content and ICP in treatment group decreased as compared to the control. Besides, VCS at 24, 48 and 72 h after TBI showed a significant increase in treatment group in comparison with control.
Based on our data, WK pre-treatment may reduce pathological parameters after TBI in male rats.

Key words: Traumatic brain injury; Walnut kernel; Brain edema; Intracranial pressure