Neurotraumaforskning med försvarsmedicinsk inriktning

The work in the defence medicine oriented neurotrauma research project "weapon effects on the central nervous system" conducted between 2001 and 2003 is briefly described in this report. This project included studies on effects of varioius types of trauma to the brain, including effects of blast wave injury and high power microwaves (HPM). The brain tissue was subjected to both morphological and biochemical analysis, as well as electrophysiology. In addtion, the patency of the blood-brain barrier was studied and trauma-induced release of S-100 protein was analysed in blood samples. Other experiments had a focus on changes in the inner ear after exposure to impulse noise. Mechanisms for cell death was studied and the possibility for cytoprotection after impulse noise trauma was evaluated. It was shown that blast injury induces severe changes in the electrical activity (EEG in the brain, but cell death or other degenerative changes could not be detected. The concentration of S-100 protein in blood serum was elevated after focal injury but not after blast injury. Blood samples and EEG analysis may therefore represent useful tools for differential diagnosis after various types of focal and non-focal injury to the brain.