Abstract: Objective To establish a stable mouse model of brain injury by ethanol intracranial injection. Methods Sixty ICR mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: sham group (n=10), 5 mL group (n=10), 10 mL group (n=10), 15 mL group (n=10), 20 mL group (n=10) and 25 mL group (n=10). The mice were intranscranially injected with different doses of ethanol. After 7 days, pathological examination was performed and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and relevant genes expression were detected. Results After model made, the ethanol injection mice showed walk and balance function obstacle at early time, and returned to normal later, but feed intake and body weight significantly decreased. With HE staining, the nerve cell necrosis and surrounding tissue edema, neurons and glial cells intercellular space expansion, microvascular clearance outside enlarge and vascular diapedesis, the nerve cells and glial cells cavity lesions were detected. The activity of SOD were decreased and content of MDA were increased. The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and synaptosomal-associated protein-25 (SNAP-25) mRNA expression was significantly increased in experimental group compared with control group, detected by Q-PCR. Conclusion The mouse model of brain injury made by intracranial injection with ethanol have the advantages of simple, phenotypic uniformity, good repeatability, high success rate compared to traditional brain injury model making.

Key words: Brain injury, Model, Mouse, Ethanol