Evaluation of In Vitro Neuronal Protection by Postconditioning with Poloxamer 188 Following Simulated Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Reperfusion after ischemia adds detrimental injury to cells. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injures cells in a variety of ways including cell membrane disruption. Hence, methods to improve endogenous membrane resealing capacity are crucial. Poloxamer (P) 188, an amphiphilic triblock copolymer, was found to be effective against I/R and mechanical injury in various experimental settings. The aim of this study was to establish an in vitro mouse neuronal TBI model and, further, to investigate if postconditioning with P188 directly interacts with neurons after compression and simulated I/R injury, when administered at the start of reoxygenation. Cellular function was assessed by cell number/viability, mitochondrial viability, membrane damage by lactated dehydrogenase (LDH) release and FM1-43 incorporation as well as apoptosis-activation by Caspase 3. Five hours hypoxia ± compression with 2 h reoxygenation proved to be a suitable model for TBI. Compared to normoxic cells not exposed to compression, cell number and mitochondrial viability decreased, whereas membrane injury by LDH release/FM1-43 dye incorporation and Caspase 3 activity increased in cells exposed to hypoxic conditions with compression followed by reoxygenation. P188 did not protect neurons from simulated I/R and/or compression injury. Future research is indicated.