Repetitive mild TBI (rmTBI) events are common in the U.S. However, rmTBI is challenging to study and this contributes to a poor understanding of mechanistic bases for disease following these injuries. We used fruit flies (D. melanogaster) and a modified version of the high-impact trauma (HIT) method of TBI to assess the pattern of mortality observed after rmTBI. We found that the pattern of mortality was synergistic after a critical number of injuries, similar to that observed previously at more moderate levels of TBI severity. The identity of cellular and molecular factors which contribute to the synergistic effect on mortality remain unknown, but this model offers a platform for investigation into such factors.

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common and often debilitating. One complication following TBI is post-traumatic seizures (PTS). However, there is a poor understanding of PTS, in part, because it is challenging to model. We sought to develop a fly model of PTS. We used a high-impact trauma (HIT) device to inflict TBI and followed this with behavioral, bang-testing methods to assess seizure behavior. Our results showed PTS incidence was sensitive to genetic background. We also found seizure duration was most pronounced at 30 minutes after injury. Our findings support the efficacy of our fly model for coarse screening of seizure behavior. We expect this model will be useful in first-pass screens intended to identify modifiers of seizure risk following TBI.How to Cite: Krcmarik TR, Willes AM, Yang A, Weber SL, Brusich DJ. ( 2023). Fruit flies subjected to TBI exhibit genotype-dependent changes in seizure incidence and duration. Bios 94, 79-84.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common and often debilitating. One complication following TBI is post-traumatic seizures (PTS). However, there is a poor understanding of PTS, in part, because it is challenging to model. We sought to develop a fly model of PTS. We used a high-impact trauma (HIT) device to inflict TBI and followed this with behavioral, bang-testing methods to assess seizure behavior. Our results showed PTS incidence was sensitive to genetic background. We also found seizure duration was most pronounced at 30 minutes after injury. Our findings support the efficacy of our fly model for coarse screening of seizure behavior. We expect this model will be useful in first-pass screens intended to identify modifiers of seizure risk following TBI.