The Acute Post-Traumatic Period in Rats Is Accompanied by an Anxiety State and a Decrease in the Proportion of REM Sleep

The sequelae of craniocerebral trauma (CCT) were studied using a model based on severe (3–4 atm) lateral hydrodynamic percussion (liquid-percussive brain injury) in male Sprague–Dawley rats. With the aim of detecting the symptoms of anxiety states, the rats’ behavior was assessed in the dark-light box and the elevated plus maze test; sleep impairments were detected by recording the electrocorticogram (ECoG) before trauma and during the first week after trauma. The results provided evidence of the post-CCT development of signs of an anxiety state, accompanied by decreases in the proportion of REM sleep and decreases in the amplitude and frequency of the ECoG during this phase.