Figure 6.

Transmission electron microscopy shows that Sal mitigates endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial damage in neurons of the injured cortex post-TBI at 6 hours after surgery (osmium tetroxide staining).

Rats were intraperitoneally injected with the endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor, Sal (1 mg/kg), 30 minutes before lateral fluid-percussion-induced TBI. The sham group (A) and sham + Sal group (B) show normal neuronal structures including normal endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial morphology. (C) TBI induced dramatic ultrastructural alterations including endoplasmic reticulum swelling and deformation, while mitochondria appeared swollen and irregularly shaped with disrupted and poorly defined cristae. (D) Sal mitigated both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial damage in neurons of the injured cortex post-TBI. Scale bars: 500 nm. Pink arrows represent mitochondria; blue arrows represent endoplasmic reticulum. Sal: Salubrinal; TBI: Traumatic brain injury.