Zhao, SongYu, ZhanyangXing, ChanghongHayakawa, KazuhideWhalen, MichaelLok, Josephine M.Lo, EngWang, Xiaoying2013-03-182012Zhao, Song, Zhanyang Yu, Gang Zhao, Changhong Xing, Kazuhide Hayakawa, Michael J Whalen, Josephine M Lok, Eng H Lo, and Xiaoying Wang. 2012. Neuroglobin-overexpression reduces traumatic brain lesion size in mice. BMC Neuroscience 13: 67.1471-2202http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10436331Background: Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that over-expression of Neuroglobin (Ngb) is neuroprotective against hypoxic/ischemic brain injuries. In this study we tested the neuroprotective effects of Ngb over-expression against traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice. Results: Both Ngb over-expression transgenic (Ngb-Tg) and wild-type (WT) control mice were subjected to TBI induced by a controlled cortical impact (CCI) device. TBI significantly increased Ngb expression in the brains of both WT and Ngb-Tg mice, but Ngb-Tg mice had significantly higher Ngb protein levels at the pre-injury baseline and post-TBI. Production of oxidative tissue damage biomarker 3NT in the brain was significantly reduced in Ngb-Tg mice compared to WT controls at 6 hours after TBI. The traumatic brain lesion volume was significantly reduced in Ngb Tg mice compared to WT mice at 3 weeks after TBI; however, there were no significant differences in the recovery of sensorimotor and spatial memory functional deficits between Ngb-Tg and WT control mice for up to 3 weeks after TBI. Conclusion: Ngb over-expression reduced traumatic lesion volume, which might partially be achieved by decreasing oxidative stress.en-USJournal Article2013-03-1810.1186/1471-2202-13-67