Characterizing the Mechanical Properties of Rat Brain Tissue in Tension
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Alireza Karimi 1, Ahmad Shojaei2 , Mehdi Navidbakhsh3 , Borhan Beigzadeh3 , Shahab Faghihi4 |
1- Science and Technology University of Iran , mnavid@iust.ac.ir 2- Baghiatallah University of Medical Sciences 3- Science & Technology University of Iran 4- National Institute of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology |
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Abstract: (10306 Views) |
Background:
Characterizing the mechanical properties of brain tissue is deemed important
for developing a comprehensive knowledge of the mechanisms underlying brain diseases.
Mechanical properties of very soft tissues, such as brain until recently have
been attracted the attention of researchers because these tissues do not
tolerate mechanical loads. The mechanical properties of brain tissue, however,
can change in some disease. Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) is one of the
hazardous types of malaria that can alter the brain tissue properties by
parasitized red blood cell (PRBC). The most severe and challenging complication
of P.falciparum infection is cerebral malaria (CM). CM is a clinically complex
syndrome and during the CM, PRBCs sequestered in cerebral microvasculature and
cause coma and eventually patient will die of it. Therefore it seems noticeable
to investigate on variation of mechanical properties of brain tissue after
infection. Methods: The mixed
gray and white matter samples are excised from seven rats which were infected
by Plasmodium berghei-ANKA (PbA) strain and two rats as the control group. Then
each removed brain tissue is carried out on uniaxial tensile apparatus and the
stress-strain diagram for each brain tissue is obtained. Findings: The results
are shown that with increasing the level of parasitemia from 1.5% to 6%, the
elastic modulus of brain tissue is increased about 3.44 times. The comparison
between the 5.5% and 6% level of parasitemia is indicated 1.87 times increasing
in elastic modulus. The comparison between the control group (0%) and 6% of
parasitemia is depicted more than 4.07 times increasing in brain tissue
stiffness. Conclusion: It can be
concluded that, brain’s rigidity is resulted from stiff PRBCs which were
sequestered in brain’s microvasculature. This suggests sequestration of the
stiffened and less deformable parasitized red blood cells in the brain
microvasculature. |
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Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium Berghei–ANKA, Brain Tissue, Mechanical Properties, Elastic Modulus |
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Full-Text [PDF 442 kb]
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Type of Article: Research Article |
Received: 2014/02/9 | Revised: 2014/02/9 | Accepted: 2014/02/9 | ePublished: 2014/02/9
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