Wide-field Calcium Imaging Reveals Widespread Changes in Cortical Connectivity Following Repetitive, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Mouse

Abstract

The physiologic basis underlying the long-term consequences of repetitive, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) remains poorly understood. Mild traumatic brain injury often results in brief loss of consciousness, impaired attention and concentration, memory problems, impulsivity, and headache, without objective findings on clinical imaging or examination. The effects of mTBI can persist and become cumulative with repetitive injury, suggesting global alterations in cortical networks. Using transparent polymer skulls, we performed mesoscopic Ca2+ imaging in mice to evaluate how repetitive mTBI alters patterns of neuronal interactions across the dorsal cerebral cortex. Spatial Independent Component Analysis (sICA) and Localized semi-Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (LocaNMF) were used to quantify changes in cerebral functional connectivity (FC). Repetitive, mild, controlled cortical impacts induce temporary neuroinflammatory responses, characterized by increased density of microglia exhibiting de-ramified morphology. These temporary neuro-inflammatory changes were not associated with compromised cognitive performance in the Barnes maze or motor function as assessed by rotarod. However, long-term alterations in functional connectivity were observed. Widespread, bilateral changes in FC occurred immediately following impact and persisted for up to 7 weeks, the duration of the experiment. Network alterations include decreases in global efficiency, clustering coefficient, and nodal strength, thereby disrupting functional interactions and information flow throughout the dorsal cerebral cortex. A subnetwork analysis shows the largest disruptions in FC were concentrated near the impact site. Therefore, repetitive mTBI induces a transient neuroinflammation, without alterations in cognitive or motor behavior, and a reorganized cortical network evidenced by the widespread, chronic alterations in cortical FC. Significance StatementMore than 2.5 million individuals in the United States suffer minor traumatic brain injuries annually. Because these injuries are typically not associated with visible anatomic injuries or objective clinical findings, they were thought benign and fully recoverable. However, there is increasing awareness of the long-term deleterious consequences, particularly in patients who suffer repeated mTBI. Using long-term, mesoscopic neuronal Ca2+ imaging to characterize the dorsal cerebral cortical connectome following repetitive mTBI, we show extensive, persistent changes in functional connectivity, not only at the site of injury but throughout the cortex. These findings provide new insights into the pathophysiology of mTBI.