Hypothermia ameliorates blast-related lifespan reduction of C. elegans

• Main Authors: Nicholas B. Angstman, Hans-Georg Frank, Christoph Schmitz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2018-07-01
• Series: Scientific Reports
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28910-z

Abstract Blast-related mild traumatic brain injury induces significant long-term health issues, yet treatment procedures remain underdeveloped. Therapeutic hypothermia has been postulated as a potentially effective therapy. In a Caenorhabditis elegans model, we demonstrate a dose-dependent reduction in lifespan following exposure to blast-like shock waves. Using polyvinyl alcohol, we show that cavitation is a key injurious factor in the damaging shock wave component. Short and long lifespan C. elegans mutants demonstrated the interaction of genetic and environmental longevity-determining factors. Hypothermia reduced the long term effect of shock wave exposure. Thus, we present an effective C. elegans model of long term effects of blast-related mild traumatic brain injury, as well as evidence of the merit of therapeutic hypothermia as a therapy option following blast exposure.