FIGURE 8.

Calpain inhibitor III treatment attenuates TBI-induced BBB hyperpermeability studied by Evans blue dye extravasation method. Vehicle control group subjected to TBI demonstrated a significant increase in Evans blue leakage compared with the sham injury group (A, p < 0.05). Calpain inhibitor III (10 μg/g body weight of the animal) pre- or post-treatment attenuated TBI-induced Evans blue leakage into the extravascular tissue space significantly (A, p < 0.05). Pictorial representation of the brain tissue from various groups is shown in B. Each group consisted of five animals. Sham injury group is used as the baseline for all comparisons. Data are expressed as nanograms/brain cortex ± S.E. *a indicates significant increase compared with the sham injury group; *b indicates significant decrease compared with the vehicle + TBI group.