Genetic inactivation of SARM1 axon degeneration pathway improves outcome trajectory after experimental traumatic brain injury based on pathological, radiological, and functional measures

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes chronic symptoms and increased risk of neurodegeneration. Axons in white matter tracts, such as the corpus callosum (CC), are critical components of neural circuits and particularly vulnerable to TBI. Treatments are needed to protect axons from traumatic injury and mitigate post-traumatic neurodegeneration. SARM1 protein is a central driver of axon degeneration through a conserved molecular pathway. Sarm1−/− mice with knockout (KO) of the Sarm1 gene enable genetic proof-of-concept testing of the SARM1 pathway as a therapeutic target. We evaluated Sarm1 deletion effects after TBI using a concussive model that causes traumatic axonal injury and progresses to CC atrophy at 10 weeks, indicating post-traumatic neurodegeneration. Sarm1 wild-type (WT) mice developed significant CC atrophy that was reduced in Sarm1 KO mice. Ultrastructural classification of pathology of individual axons, using electron microscopy, demonstrated that Sarm1 KO preserved more intact axons and reduced damaged or demyelinated axons. Longitudinal MRI studies in live mice identified significantly reduced CC volume after TBI in Sarm1 WT mice that was attenuated in Sarm1 KO mice. MR diffusion tensor imaging detected reduced fractional anisotropy in both genotypes while axial diffusivity remained higher in Sarm1 KO mice. Immunohistochemistry revealed significant attenuation of CC atrophy, myelin loss, and neuroinflammation in Sarm1 KO mice after TBI. Functionally, Sarm1 KO mice exhibited beneficial effects in motor learning and sleep behavior. Based on these findings, Sarm1 inactivation can protect axons and white matter tracts to improve translational outcomes associated with CC atrophy and post-traumatic neurodegeneration.

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in long term disability in more severe cases and can cause persistent symptoms even in patients who receive a “mild” diagnosis [42, 67, 72]. TBI may also lead to post-traumatic neurodegeneration and increase the risk for co-morbid neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease [16, 19, 31, 73]. In patients with moderate-severe TBI, diffuse axonal injury has been shown to predict the extent of post-traumatic neurodegeneration, based on MRI volumetric and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data [30]. The strongest relationship was found in central white matter tracts, including the corpus callosum (CC). The CC is one of the main structures exhibiting atrophy across patients with complicated mild to severe TBI [16, 31]. Furthermore, DTI tractography demonstrated disrupted fiber tract continuity in anterior CC regions after concussions while broad areas of disrupted tracts were found throughout the CC in patients with MRI findings of diffuse axonal injury [38]. Ex vivo MRI of a patient who died 26 days after TBI demonstrated that white matter tract disruptions detected by DTI correlated with neuropathological identification of axonal injury [69].

Long axons in white matter tracts are particularly vulnerable to damage in all forms of closed head TBI [11, 40, 57, 78]. At an early stage of damage, axons can exhibit focal swellings yet longitudinal in vitro and in vivo imaging has shown the potential to recover [32, 37, 68]. Once mechanical or molecular processes fragment the axon, then the distal axon irreversibly degrades by Wallerian degeneration [32, 37, 54, 56, 68]. The majority of axon damage is due to secondary mechanisms of damage that can cause axons to initiate Wallerian degeneration for weeks or more after the initial TBI event [13, 54, 56]. Irreversible axonal injury leads to disconnection between brain regions and disruption of neural circuits that may contribute to diverse TBI symptoms [33, 59]. To improve outcomes for patients after TBI, research is needed to identify approaches to protect against axon degeneration and, further, to determine whether acute axon protection can reduce post-traumatic neurodegeneration.

Wallerian degeneration is an “active program of axon self-destruction” [76]. After injury or mitochondrial dysfunction, the SARM1 (sterile alpha and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor motif-containing 1) protein executes a highly conserved molecular axon degeneration pathway [27, 48, 70, 84]. Injury releases SARM1 from an auto-inhibited state that is found in healthy axons [22, 76, 80]. Active SARM1 is a glycohydrolase which depletes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD +) that is critical for energy stores in axons [18, 23, 26]. Loss of sufficient NAD + leads to a cascade of axon destruction in which ionic imbalance leads to cytoskeletal and structural breakdown within the axon [25, 26, 85].

Deletion of the Sarm1 gene provides a genetic proof-of-concept to examine the effects of long-term inactivation of this axon degeneration pathway in chronic TBI and to evaluate the relationship of axonal injury to post-traumatic neurodegeneration. Knockout of Sarm1 in cultured human sensory neurons and in live mice reduced axon damage in models of peripheral neuropathy induced by trauma or chemotherapy [14, 24, 26, 70]. In multiple models of TBI, Sarm1 knockout (KO) mice exhibited significantly reduced axon damage at acute and late phase time points [35, 52, 58, 96]. Long-term studies of TBI in mice can model post-traumatic neurodegeneration that includes atrophy of the CC [47, 53, 64]. Initial results from our prior studies provided the first evidence that Sarm1 deletion may reduce both late stage axon damage and CC atrophy [52].

We now focus on CC atrophy as an important translational outcome measure of post-traumatic neurodegeneration. We evaluate the effect of Sarm1 deletion on axon damage, demyelination, and neuroinflammation on the progression of CC atrophy after closed head TBI. We use longitudinal MRI to detect changes in CC volume and white matter integrity in live mice, which provides a highly translational outcome measure of prolonged Sarm1 inactivation. To demonstrate whether the pathological effects of Sarm1 deletion have a meaningful impact on complex functions, we assess motor skill learning and sleep behavior. This experimental design provides a rigorous and translationally relevant screen to evaluate the impact of Sarm1 deletion on long-term outcome measures after TBI.

Materials and methods

Mice

All mice were treated in accordance with guidelines of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Mice were socially housed with 2–5 mice per 35 cm × 16.5 cm × 18 cm cages containing enrichment objects. Mice were maintained on a standard 12 h cycle of daytime light (6:00–18:00). Sarm1−/− knockout (KO) mice, B6.129 × 1-Sarm1tm1Aidi/J (RRID:IMSR_JAX:018069) were originally obtained from The Jackson Laboratory. Sarm1 KO mice were generated by targeted mutation that replaced exons 3 through 6 with a neo cassette in the reverse orientation and absence of SARM1 protein in the brain was confirmed by western blot [43]. Sarm1 KO mice were backcrossed to C57BL/6 mice for 15 generations before arrival at The Jackson Laboratory and then crossed at least once to C57BL/6 J mice. For our studies, Sarm1 KO mice were crossed to C57BL/6 J mice and then heterozygotes were bred to generate littermates used in experiments. Sarm1 is highly expressed in the brain; lack of detectable SARM1 protein in Sarm1 KO mice does not produce gross or microscopic brain pathology [28, 43]. The colony was maintained at Charles River Laboratories (Wilmington, MA) where ear biopsies were genotyped using a 3-primer allele specific PCR assay that targets the mutated Sarm1 region. Experimental mice were acclimated for 3 days after shipment and prior to the start of experiments.

The total number of mice used in experiments was Sarm1 WT (n = 66; 33 male, 33 female) and Sarm1 KO (n = 75; 34 male, 41 female) littermates. The specific number of mice used for quantification in each experiment is shown by symbols on the graphs and/or stated in each figure legend. Mice used for EM or for Miss-step wheel running were not included in any other analyses. Mice used for MRI were perfused and included in post-imaging tissue analysis. Immunohistochemical analyses included MRI mice and sleep study mice as well as additional cohorts to fulfill the conditions and sample sizes needed for the sleep analysis.

TBI and sham procedures

The TBI model has been characterized in our previous studies [52, 61]. This concussive, closed head injury model results in pathology under the impact site at bregma in the CC and the adjacent cingulum [53, 83]. Under 2% isoflurane anesthesia, 8–10 week old mice received a single impact onto the skull at bregma (i.e. 0 ML, 0 AP, 0 DV) using an ImpactOne stereotaxic impactor (Leica Biosystems, Buffalo Grove, IL) with a 3-mm-diameter tip (velocity set at 4.0 m/s; depth of 1.5 mm; dwell time of 100 ms). Sham mice received the same procedure without the impact. Righting reflex demonstrated a significant injury effect of longer time to righting after TBI, as compared to sham procedures, which did not differ with Sarm1 genotype or sex (Additional File 1: Figure S1). The predetermined study design criteria required exclusion of three mice for depressed skull fracture and/or impactor malfunction.

Electron microscopy

Transmission electron microscopy (EM) was used to analyze axon and myelin subcellular structure, which can reveal a broad range of axon and myelin pathology [53, 61]. Cohorts consisted of Sarm1 WT sham (n = 9; 4 female, 5 male) and TBI (n = 8; 4 female, 4 male) along with Sarm1 KO sham (n = 7; 3 female, 4 male) and TBI (n = 9; 5 female, 4 male). Mice were sacrificed at 10 weeks after sham or TBI procedure. Mice were anesthetized with ketamine/xylazine before transventricular cardiac perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde (Electron Microscopy Sciences, Hatfield, PA; Cat #19210) and 2.5% glutaraldehyde (Electron Microscopy Sciences; Cat #16210) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer. After overnight post-fixation, brains were cut into sagittal (40 μm) sections using a Leica VT-1200 vibrating blade microtome (Leica Biosystems, Buffalo Grove, IL). Parasagittal sections were immersed in 2% osmium tetroxide (OsO4; Electron Microscopy Sciences; Cat #19100) infiltrated with Spurr epoxy resin (Electron Microscopy Sciences; Cat #14300), flat-embedded and then polymerized at 70 °C for 11 h. Thin sections (∼70 nm) were cut on an Ultracut UC6 ultramicrotome (Leica Biosystems). Copper grids containing thin sections were post-stained for 20 min in 2% aqueous uranyl acetate (Electron Microscopy Sciences; Cat #22400) and for 5 min in Reynolds lead citrate (Reynolds, 1963).

Quantification of sagittal CC width and electron microscopy analysis

Prior to thin sectioning, resin-embedded 40 μm sagittal sections approximately 200 μm lateral to the midline were osmicated to stain myelin and imaged in bright field on an Olympus IX-70 microscope. CC width was measured across the superior to inferior borders in five locations at ~ 100 μm intervals across a 0.5 mm rostro-caudal region centered under bregma. This region-of-interest (ROI) consistently exhibits traumatic axonal injury in this TBI model, as evidenced by dispersed damaged axons among adjacent intact axons, and matches the EM analysis performed in our previous work with this Sarm1 line of mice [52, 53].

Thin sections for EM analysis were then cut from within the CC ROI of the 40 μm thick sections. The EM grids of sagittal thin sections were reviewed on a JEOL JEM-1011 transmission electron microscope (JEOL USA Inc., Peabody, MA) and images were acquired using an AMT XR50S-A digital camera (Advanced Microscopy Techniques, Woburn, MA). Images were taken at 5000 × magnification and 8–10 images per animal were quantified for classification of axon and myelin pathology. For each image, a 17 μm × 12.5 μm region defined the counting frame, within which > 120 axons were quantified. All axons within the counting frame were counted. Axons partially crossing the top and right lines were included while those partially crossing the left and bottom line were excluded. Axons were classified as intact axons, de/unmyelinated axons, axons with abnormal mitochondria, or damaged axons [52, 53, 61]. Damaged axons were defined as axons with cytoskeletal disruption or axons with accumulated vesicles and debris. Mitochondria that appeared swollen encompassed > 50% of the area of the axon cross-section and were considered abnormal. De/unmyelinated axons were > 0.3 µm in diameter and lacked detectable compact myelin, but otherwise appeared intact. Axons without myelin and with a diameter < 0.3 µm were excluded as this axon size is typically unmyelinated in the CC of healthy adult mice [81]. TBI-induced demyelination was inferred when de/unmyelinated axon counts were significantly greater after TBI, as compared to sham. Myelin outfoldings were identified as myelin extending out from an axon and folding back onto itself to form double layered or redundant myelin [61] but were not significantly induced by TBI at this 10 week time point in mice of either genotype (data not shown). Additional images were taken at 10,000–15,000 × for illustration of pathological features.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis of CC volume and microstructure

MRI with multi-spin-echo for T2 relaxation time mapping, high resolution 3D proton density (PD-w) for volumetric calculations and diffusion tensor images (DTI) were acquired to assess the longitudinal effects of Sarm1 knockout in the CC ROI following TBI. Longitudinal MRI studies were conducted in live mice with repeated scans of the same mouse at baseline (prior to TBI) and at 3 days and 10 weeks post-TBI. Mice were scanned on a 7 T Bruker BioSpec 70/20 USR Magnetic Resonance Imaging System with a 660 mT/m, 12 cm diameter gradient coil, 86 mm quadrature TX/RX coil, and Bruker Mouse head 4 channel receive coil array (Bruker BioSpin GmbH, Reinstetten, Germany). Mice were anesthetized in an induction chamber with a mixture of 4% isoflurane in medical air and maintained with 1.5–1.75% isoflurane in medical air delivered by nose cone during the MRI procedures. Respiration rate (range 40–70 BPM, maintained by adjusting isoflurane concentration) and temperature were continuously monitored throughout the experiments. MRI slices were positioned using a sagittal localizer so that coronal slices were oriented perpendicular to the length of the CC axis and each brain was aligned with the midline crossing of the anterior commissure within in the same coronal slice [82, 87, 95].

A whole brain T2 relaxation time map was generated from a two-dimensional rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (2D RARE, coronal [34] using the following parameters: TR = 4000 ms, echo time (TE) = 10, 30, 50, 70, 90, 110 ms, echo train length (ETL) = 2, number of averages NA = 4, field of view (FOV) 14 mm × 14 mm, matrix 112 × 112, in-plane resolution 125 µm × 125 µm, slice thickness 750 µm, number of slices NS = 21, no fat suppression, BW 36 kHz, time 14:56 min. Additionally, a high resolution proton density weighted (PD-w) 3D MRI was acquired to measure CC volumetrics using the following parameters: 3D RARE, TR = 2500 ms, TE = 30 ms, ETL = 8, number of averages NA = 1, FOV 18 mm × 14 mm × 11 mm, matrix 144 × 112 × 88, 125 µm isotropic resolution, no fat suppression, BW 36 kHz, time 55:25 min. DTI data was acquired using the following parameters: 2D 2-shot echo planar imaging (EPI), TR = 3000 ms, TE = 27, NA = 2, 4 B0 and 30 non-collinear diffusion directions, b = 600, 1200 s/mm², δ = 5 ms, Δ = 12 ms, FOV 14 mm × 14 mm, in-plane resolution 175 µm × 175 µm, matrix 80 × 80, slice thickness 750 µm, number of slices NS = 21, fat suppression, BW 300 kHz, time 12:48 min.

The multi-echo T2-w images were converted to the NIFTI file format using a custom script in Matlab. A bias field correction was performed on the 30 ms echo time image using the N4BiasFieldCorrection command in the Advanced Normalization Toolkit (ANTs) [7]. The computed bias field was then applied to the other echo times (10, 50, 70, 90, 110 ms). Estimates of T2-decay (T2) and amplitude (S₀) images (maps) were obtained using a nonlinear fit to the equation S_i(TE) = S₀* exp (− TEi/T2), where Si is the signal intensity for echo time TE_i. The T2-map and amplitude values were fed into a deep learning algorithm to create a brain mask [74, 82, 95]. Brain masks were manually corrected as needed. The ROI in the CC was drawn manually using VivoQuant software (inviCRO, Boston, MA). The CC ROI was defined as extending from the midline bilaterally to the point of ventral curvature in the external capsule (Additional File 1: Figure S2), as in our previous studies [82, 95].

DTI were processed using the TORTOISE v3.2.0 software package [65, 71]. Motion correction, eddy current correction, and EPI distortion correction were performed using the DIFFPREP function. Tensors were computed using a nonlinear tensor fit with RESTORE, and fractional anisotropy (FA), trace (TR), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were computed from the diffusion tensor images. An ROI was drawn manually in the CC within the slice under the impact site at bregma (Additional File 1: Figure S2), and average CC values of FA, TR, AD, and RD were computed. TR did not show an effect of injury or genotype (data not shown).

To calculate volume change in the CC the 125 µm isotropic 3D PD-weighted image slices were converted to NIFTI file format using a custom script in Matlab. A bias field correction was performed using the N4BiasFieldCorrection command in the Advanced Normalization Toolkit (ANTs) [7]. The brain mask from the multi-spin-echo T2 image set was transformed to the 3D PD-w imaging using rigid registration and linear interpolation and thresholded at 0.5 to create a new binary mask. A template was created from the baseline scans using the antsMultivariateTemplateConstruction2.sh script [8]. Each image for each time point was then registered to the template using the nonlinear registration algorithm in ANTs [7]. Registration parameters were selected based on the approach described by Anderson et al. [3]. Voxel-wise maps of volume change were created using the CreateJacobianDeterminateImage function in the ANTs toolkit. A ROI was drawn manually in the CC on each of seven 125 µm coronal image slices (Additional File 1: Figure S2) that encompassed the CC over the lateral ventricle and under the site of injury within the + 0.5 and − 0.5 mm window relative to bregma. The average value of volume change was then computed.

Immunohistochemistry

Immunohistochemical analysis used cohorts of Sarm1 littermates perfused at 10 weeks after the TBI or sham procedure for Sarm1 WT sham (n = 7; 3 female, 4 male) and TBI (n = 11; 6 female, 5 male) along with Sarm1 KO sham (n = 6; 2 female, 4 male) and TBI (n = 11; 5 female, 6 male). Sarm1 mice were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde and brains cut as 14 μm-thick coronal cryosections for immunohistochemistry, as in prior studies [82]. Myelin was detected by immunolabelling for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG; polyclonal mouse anti-MOG; 1:100; Millipore, Burlington MA; Cat# MAB5680, RRID: AB_1587278) followed by incubation with Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody (1:50 Jackson ImmunoResearch, West Grove, PA; Cat# 715-166-150, RRID: AB_2340816). Astrocytes and microglia were immunolabeled as a double stain in separate fluorescent channels. Astrocytes were evaluated by immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP; monoclonal mouse anti-GFAP; 1:500 [82]; Millipore, Burlington, MA; Cat# MAB3402, RRID:AB_94844) with secondary incubation using AlexaFluor-594-conjugated secondary antibody (1:400, Jackson ImmunoResearch; Cat# 711-587-003, RRID: AB_2340623). Microglia/macrophages were identified using polyclonal rabbit antibody against ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1; 1:500; Wako, Richmond, VA; Cat# 019-19741, RRID:AB_839504) followed by incubation with AlexaFluor-488-conjugated secondary antibody (1:400, Jackson ImmunoResearch Cat# 715-546-151, RRID: AB_2340850). Axon damage was detected using a rabbit polyclonal antibody against β-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP CT695; 1:00, ThermoFisher Cat# 51-2700, RRID: AB_87659) followed by incubation with Cy3 conjugated donkey anti-rabbit IgG (1:100, Jackson ImmunoResearch Cat# 711-166-152, RRID: AB_2313568). All tissue sections were counterstained with DAPI nuclear stain (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO; Cat# D9542). Primary antibodies immunolabeled the target structures and cell types without inappropriate co-localization or non-specific signal. Secondary antibodies resulted only low non-specific signal in the absence of an appropriate primary antibody.

Immunohistochemical analysis of coronal CC width, myelination, and neuroinflammation

Images within the CC ROI were acquired with a 10 × objective on an Olympus IX-70 microscope using a SPOT RT3 camera. For quantification in coronal images, the CC ROI extended from the midline laterally to under the peak of the cingulum at coronal levels between + 0.5 and − 0.5 mm relative to bregma. The CC width (superior-inferior thickness) was measured as the average of measurements taken at the midline and bilaterally at ~ 200 μm lateral to the midline, under the peak of the cingulum, and ~ 200 μm lateral to the peak of the cingulum using MOG staining (Additional File 1: Figure S2). ImageJ software was used to threshold fluorescence levels to quantify the area of immunolabeling above background within the CC ROI area to determine the percent area [5, 52]. Images were also acquired with a 40 × objective to classify the morphology of IBA1 immunolabeled cells as resting or activated cells [61, 83, 95]. Quantification included 4–6 sections per mouse.

Motor skill learning task

The Miss-step wheel motor assay was performed using a protocol previously described [82]. The Miss-step wheel motor assay has been shown to engage the CC and be sensitive to changes in myelination [36, 60, 62]. From 8 to 10 weeks post TBI, mice were singly housed in home cages with a Miss-step running wheel equipped with an optical sensor to detect wheel revolutions (Mouse Miss-step Activity Wheel system, Cat# 80821, Lafayette Instruments, Lafayette, IN). The Miss-step running wheels have 16 rungs missing from a standard wheel so that the remaining 22 rungs are distributed in an irregular interval pattern [36]. Mouse whiskers were clipped so that avoiding miss-steps was dependent on learning to follow the rung located on the prior step by bringing the hind paw forward to grasp the rung used by the forepaw [60]. Activity Wheel Counters (Cat# 86061) with Activity Wheel Monitor software (Lafayette Instruments) counted wheel revolutions at 6 min intervals during the “lights on” sleeping phase and 1 min intervals during the “lights off” awake active phase. An infrared sensor records each rung that passes and the software uses the rung number and wheel dimensions to calculate the velocity, distance, and continuity of running intervals. Results were exported to a Microsoft Excel file every 24 h. The first week of exposure to the Miss-step wheels has been shown to have a steep learning curve, consistent with mastering this motor skill [36, 60]. After this learning phase, the velocity is typically plateaus to a more stable level across the second week [62, 82]. The mice are removed for cage cleaning between days 7 and 8.

Sleep/wake pattern

Sleep pattern data was collected using a non-invasive automated scoring system (Signal Solutions LLC, Lexington, KY). Mice were single housed during the 8^th week following TBI or sham procedures for 72 h and maintained on a standard 12 h cycle of daytime light (6:00–18:00) with continuous data collection. A cage floor matt with piezoelectric sensors recorded 4 s epochs and used the 2–4 Hz breathing rhythm of mice to classify intervals of 30 s or more as asleep or awake [51]. This piezoelectric sensor system compares well with sleep data collected by visual observation and with electrophysiological discrimination of sleep/wake intervals, yet avoids the surgical procedures of electrophysiological techniques that could confound other assessments of TBI [63, 94].

Statistical analysis

Sample sizes were estimated for > 80% power based on prior data in Sarm1 and in C57BL/6 mice [52, 95] (Additional File 1: Figures S2, S3). Mice were randomized to TBI/sham using the RAND function in Microsoft Excel. Investigators not involved in the study coded slide or file numbers to blind those involved in data collection and analysis to genotype and injury condition. GraphPad Prism 8.0 software (RRID: SCR_002798) was used for statistical analysis and graphing. Bar graphs show means with standard error of the mean and symbols for individual mouse values. Student’s t-test was used for comparison of two conditions (sham vs injury; WT vs KO) at a single time point. Two-way ANOVA was used to determine statistically significant differences when comparing by genotype and injury between groups. Repeated measures two-way ANOVA (RM ANOVA) was used to assess differences between genotypes over time in the longitudinal MRI analysis and within behavioral assessments. Corrections for multiple comparisons used the Holm-Sidak's test. Total distance accumulated during each week of wheel running was compared based on a linear regression model. An alpha-level of p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Sarm1 knockout protects against CC atrophy and axon-myelin pathology in chronic TBI

The potential for Sarm1 inactivation to provide long term axon protection and/or to mitigate post-traumatic neurodegeneration was first evaluated using transmission EM (Fig. 1). Before thin sectioning for EM, sagittal brain slices were osmium-stained to label myelin and examined with bright field microscopy to measure the CC width, which is a clinically relevant measure of white matter pathology in TBI and neurological diseases [20]. Both Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO mice developed significant CC atrophy by 10 weeks after TBI, yet the extent of atrophy was significantly less in the Sarm1 KO mice (Fig. 1a). For in-depth analysis of the underlying pathology associated with changes in CC size, the tissue slices were then thin sectioned and imaged by transmission EM at subcellular resolution to examine individual myelinated axons within the same region of the CC. This quantification revealed a significant reduction of intact axons due to TBI in the Sarm1 WT mice that was rescued in Sarm1 KO mice (Fig. 1b).

Fig. 1

Sarm1 knockout reduces corpus callosum atrophy and axon pathology at 10 weeks post-TBI. a Sarm1 knockout attenuates CC atrophy that develops after TBI. b Sarm1 knockout preserves intact, myelinated axons after TBI. c–f Representative images of pathological features from high resolution electron microscopy in CC sagittal sections. c Example from a Sarm1 WT sham mouse to show the cytoskeleton, mitochondria and surrounding myelin sheath of intact axons in contrast with a rare damaged axon with a densely compacted cytoskeleton (blue arrow). d Sarm1 WT TBI mouse example of an axon with an abnormally large mitochondrion (red arrow) and an axon with a typical mitochondrion (red asterisk). Mitochondria were considered abnormal when swollen to > 50% of the axon area. e Demyelinated axon (yellow arrow) lacking ensheathing myelin but with otherwise intact cytoskeleton in a Sarm1 WT TBI mouse. f Damaged axon (blue arrow) with vesicle accumulation and cytoskeletal breakdown in a Sarm1 KO TBI mouse. g–j Representative electron microscopy images from CC sagittal sections for Sarm1 WT sham (g) and TBI (h) mice in comparison with Sarm1 KO sham (i) and TBI (j) mice. Arrows identify examples of damaged axons with accumulated vesicles and/or compacted cytoskeleton (blue), abnormal mitochondria (red), or demyelination (yellow). k–m Quantification of axon and myelin pathology at 10 weeks after TBI or sham procedure. Sarm1 knockout reduces chronic stage axon damage (k), normalizes mitochondria morphology (l), and eliminates TBI-induced demyelinated component of de/unmyelinated axons (M). Sarm1 WT: n = 9 sham, n = 8 TBI. Sarm1 KO: n = 7 sham, n = 9 TBI. ns = not significant. Further statistical details are provided in Additional File 1: Table S1. c–f scale bars = 0.5 µm. g–j, scale bars = 1 µm

Myelinated axons exhibit subcellular features that can distinguish intact axons from indicators of axon damage including swollen mitochondria, compacted cytoskeletal structure, accumulation of vesicles or debris, or loss of ensheathing myelin (Fig. 1c–f). After the sham procedure, Sarm1 WT mice illustrate the healthy adult high density of myelinated axons in this anterior region of the CC (Fig. 1g). As previously characterized in this concussive TBI model [52, 61], TBI results in damaged axons that are dispersed among adjacent intact axons and may also exhibit demyelination in Sarm1 WT mice (Fig. 1h). Sarm1 KO mice exhibit normal appearing myelinated axons after the sham procedure and dispersed damaged axons after TBI (Fig. 1i, j). Importantly, while both Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO mice exhibited axon damage after TBI, Sarm1 inactivation significantly reduced the frequency of damaged myelinated axons (Fig. 1k). Axons with abnormal mitochondria were increased after TBI only in Sarm1 WT mice yet the Sarm1 KO reduction of mitochondrial pathology relative to Sarm1 WT did not reach significance (Fig. 1l). Finally, Sarm1 inactivation significantly reduced the frequency of TBI-induced demyelination relative to Sarm1 WT mice and normalized the frequency to sham levels in Sarm1 KO mice (Fig. 1m).

Longitudinal in vivo MRI detects CC atrophy after TBI and attenuation by Sarm1 knockout

Longitudinal MRI studies were conducted to advance the translational impact while further evaluating the effects of Sarm1 inactivation on white matter integrity and CC atrophy. Each mouse was scanned prior to injury (i.e., baseline), and with follow up scans at acute and chronic stages after TBI. While DTI measures of white matter integrity have long been effectively used for analysis of adult mouse CC [79, 82], volume measurements have only recently been validated for quantification of atrophy and hypertrophy of the relatively small structures of adult mouse brains [3, 9]; Therefore, an initial cross-sectional in vivo study was conducted in C57BL/6 mice to optimize the MRI outcome measures. DTI analysis at 10 weeks after sham or TBI demonstrated significant changes after TBI in CC integrity while high resolution PD-w volumetrics detected significant CC atrophy that was validated by post-imaging neuropathology (Additional File 1: Figure S2).

Longitudinal MRI studies were then conducted to compare Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO mice. Volumetric analysis showed significant atrophy of the CC between baseline and 10 weeks in Sarm1 WT mice (Fig. 2a–c) that was attenuated in Sarm1 KO (Fig. 2d–f), in agreement with the histological results (Fig. 1A). Conversely, MRI shows no significant change in CC volume from baseline to 3 days post-injury (Sarm1 WT p = 0.6773; Sarm1 KO p = 0.1570), when prior histology has shown no significant CC atrophy [52]. DTI detected reduced white matter integrity across time points after TBI based on reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in both Sarm1 WT mice (Fig. 2g, i) and Sarm1 KO mice (Fig. 2h, i). Progressive decrease in FA was driven by decreased axial diffusivity (AD) at 3 days post-TBI (Fig. 2j) and subsequent elevation of radial diffusivity (RD) at 10 weeks post-TBI (Fig. 2k). Sarm1 genotype resulted in a significant effect of higher AD values in Sarm1 KO mice (Fig. 2j).

Fig. 2

Progression of corpus callosum atrophy after TBI is sufficient for MRI detection in live mice and is attenuated by Sarm1 knockout. a–c TBI induces significant CC atrophy in Sarm1 WT mice. High resolution PD-weighted images showing the coronal view at the level of the impact site at baseline (a, before surgery) and at 10 weeks (b) post-TBI/sham procedures. Quantification of volume change in CC regions under the impact site (c). d–f In Sarm1 KO mice, CC atrophy is not detected in representative high resolution PD-weighted images (d, e) or based on changes in CC volume (f). g–h Direction encoded color images of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) from a longitudinal MRI series at baseline (BL) and again at 3 days and 10 weeks post-TBI or sham procedures. Colors represent fiber directions as red (medial–lateral), blue (anterior–posterior), and green (superior-inferior). i–k Quantification of DTI measures reveals a chronic progression of CC pathology following TBI. Fractional anisotropy (FA) significantly decreases over time following TBI (i). The acute change is driven by a decrease in axial diffusivity (AD) between baseline and 3 days (j). Sarm1 KO mice have significantly higher AD values than Sarm1 WT mice (j). The FA at 10 weeks corresponds with a delayed increase in radial diffusivity (RD) in Sarm1 KO mice (k). Arrows indicate medial CC regions. Sarm1 WT: n = 10 TBI; Sarm1 KO: n = 15 TBI. ns = not significant. Further statistical details are provided in Additional File 1: Table S2

Immunohistochemistry shows reduced neuroinflammation in addition to reduced CC atrophy, axon damage and myelin loss after TBI in Sarm1 knockout mice

Microglia and astrocyte responses have been linked to chronic white matter damage and atrophy [41, 45, 46, 50, 61, 83]. Therefore, immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate CC atrophy and for analysis of a larger areas for myelination effects in regions with persistent axon damage (Fig. 3a–d) to then examine CC neuroinflammation in adjacent sections (Fig. 4). CC width was measured in coronal sections with myelin immunolabeled for MOG and cytoarchitecture was evaluated using DAPI to stain nuclei (Fig. 3e; Additional File 1: Figure S2). CC width was reduced at 10 weeks after TBI in comparison with sham mice (Fig. 3e). Quantification of the pixel area of MOG immunoreactivity within the CC showed TBI-induced loss of myelin (Fig. 3f). Axon damage was detected as axonal swellings immunolabeled for β-APP (Fig. 3b, d insets). Sarm1 KO mice had significantly less CC atrophy and less myelin loss and axon damage after TBI as compared to Sarm1 WT mice (Fig. 3e–g). These findings are in agreement with the EM results for TBI-induced myelinated axon loss and demyelination of intact axons, which both contribute to MOG immunolabeling and are attenuated by Sarm1 knockout (Fig. 1b, k, m).

Fig. 3

Sarm1 knockout reduces corpus callosum atrophy, myelin loss, and axon damage at 10 weeks post-TBI. a–d Representative images from CC coronal sections of Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO mice after sham or TBI procedures. Myelin is detected with immunolabeling for MOG (red). DAPI nuclear stain is shown in blue. Insets show axonal swellings with β-APP immunoreactivity (examples indicated by arrows). CC borders are indicated by dashed lines. e Sarm1 knockout attenuates CC atrophy, which is quantified based on the CC width. f TBI results in significant myelin loss as detected by reduced MOG immunoreactivity. Myelin loss after TBI is significantly reduced in Sarm1 KO mice compared to Sarm1 WT mice. g Axon damage in TBI mice was significantly reduced in Sarm1 KO mice compared to Sarm1 WT mice. MOG quantification included Sarm1 WT: n = 7 sham, n = 11 TBI; Sarm1 KO: n = 6 sham, n = 11 TBI. β-APP quantification included Sarm1 WT: n = 6 TBI; Sarm1 KO: n = 9 TBI. ns = not significant. Further statistical details are provided in Additional File 1: Table S3. Scale bars a–d = 100 µm, insets b, d = 25 µm

Fig. 4

Sarm1 knockout reduces neuroinflammation at 10 weeks post-TBI. a–d Representative images from CC coronal sections of Sarm1 WT (a, b) and Sarm1 KO (c, d) mice after sham (a, c) or TBI (b, d) procedures. Neuroinflammation is detected with markers of astrocytes (GFAP, green) and microglia (IBA1, red). DAPI nuclear stain shown in blue. The CC borders are indicated by dashed lines. e–g Higher magnification examples of astrocyte (GFAP) and microglia (IBA1) morphology. In sham mice (e), astrocytes and microglia exhibit homeostatic morphology with thin processes. Following TBI (f, g), reactive astrocytes and microglia have intensely immunolabeled cell bodies and shorter, thicker, processes. h Sarm1 knockout significantly reduced astrogliosis after TBI, based on GFAP immunolabeling within the CC area. i The microglial response also indicated CC neuroinflammation after TBI, based on IBA1 immunolabeling, but did not detect differences due to Sarm1 inactivation. j–k More detailed counting of IBA1 immunolabeled ( +) cells revealed that Sarm1 loss significantly reduced the frequency of both resting (j) and activated (k) microglia after TBI. Sarm1 WT: n = 7 sham, n = 7 TBI. Sarm1 KO: n = 6 sham, n = 7 TBI. ns = not significant. Further statistical details are provided in Additional File 1: Table S3. a–d, scale bars = 100 µm. E–G, scale bars = 25 µm

Neuroinflammation was estimated by immunolabeling for reactive astrocytes and microglia using GFAP and IBA1, respectively (Fig. 4). TBI resulted in more intense immunoreactivity of individual cells and an increase of overall immunolabeling for both GFAP and IBA1 (Fig. 4a–g). Immunolabeling within the CC after TBI was reduced in Sarm1 KO mice for GFAP (Fig. 4h) but not for IBA1 (Fig. 4i). Further analysis to count the IBA1 immunolabeled cells within the CC revealed that Sarm1 inactivation reduced microglia with either a resting state morphology (Fig. 4j) or an activated morphology (Fig. 4k) after TBI. Taken together, these results show that the reduction in CC atrophy and myelin loss seen in Sarm1 KO mice after TBI was accompanied by a reduced neuroinflammatory response.

Sarm1 knockout improves functional outcome measures in chronic stage TBI

Behavioral assessments targeting CC axons were selected to test whether the beneficial effects of Sarm1 inactivation on TBI pathology translated to improved functional outcome measures. This TBI model did not cause overt symptoms at any time out through 10 weeks post-TBI. Therefore, an initial set of experiments in C57BL/6 mice evaluated two assays associated with CC axon-myelin pathology to determine whether either assay revealed deficits during this late phase of TBI. Miss-step wheel running is a motor skill task that engages CC axons and is sensitive to myelination status [36, 60, 82]. C57BL/6 mice showed a deficit in learning to run rapidly on the Miss-step wheels after TBI as compared to sham mice (Additional File 1: Figure S3). C57BL/6 mice with CC pathology from experimental demyelination or repetitive mild TBI exhibit social interaction deficits [62, 95]. However, with the current single impact concussive model of TBI, C57BL/6 mice did not show social interaction deficits (Additional File 1: Figure S4). Based on the results of these assays, the Miss-step wheel task was selected for functional assessment of TBI deficits in Sarm1 WT versus Sarm1 KO mice.

Motor learning and performance on the Miss-step wheels was assessed in Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO mice from 8 to 10 weeks post-TBI. Sarm1 KO mice ran at a faster average velocity compared to Sarm1 WT mice during the learning phase of the assay although this improvement did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.0821) (Fig. 5a). Further analysis of running parameters showed that Sarm1 KO mice ran on the wheels more times during the learning phase compared to Sarm1 WT mice (Fig. 5b). Additionally, the cumulative distance traveled by Sarm1 KO mice during the learning phase is further for Sarm1 KO mice than for Sarm1 WT mice (Fig. 5c).

Fig. 5

Sarm1 knockout improves motor learning in chronic stage TBI. Miss-step wheels have irregularly spaced rungs to assess motor skill learning (week 1) followed by a plateau phase (week 2) that tests bilateral sensorimotor function. a Sarm1 KO mice more quickly learn to run at a faster average velocity compared to Sarm1 WT mice, but this improvement does not reach statistical significance (p = 0.0821). b Sarm1 KO mice run on the wheels more frequently than Sarm1 WT during the learning phase. c Running behavior accumulates to increased total distance traveled during the learning phase in Sarm1 KO mice compared to Sarm1 WT mice. There were no statistically significant differences between genotypes in the three measures during the plateau phase (a–c). Sarm1 WT: n = 9 TBI. Sarm1 KO: n = 15 TBI. ns = not significant. Further statistical details are provided in Additional File 1: Table S4

Sleep behavior was selected in place of social interaction as a highly translational assessment for post-traumatic neurodegeneration (Fig. 6). Sleep disorders are common in patients with chronic TBI and sleep patterns may contribute to neurodegeneration, particularly white matter degeneration [2, 66, 75]. Sleep data was analyzed for Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO mice during two light/dark cycles. In Sarm1 WT mice, TBI causes an overall difference from shams in the percent of time spent sleeping (Fig. 6a). This difference was not found in Sarm1 KO mice (Fig. 6b). More specifically, Sarm1 WT mice slept less during the lighted period that is the sleep phase for nocturnal mice (Fig. 6c) without a change during the awake phase (Fig. 6d). Sarm1 KO mice did not exhibit a sleep deficit after TBI, as compared to shams (Fig. 6c, d).

Fig. 6

Sarm1 knockout normalizes time spent sleeping in the chronic stage of TBI: mice were single housed in cages equipped with a PiezoSleep mouse behavioral tracking system for 72 h during the eighth week after TBI. a–b Mice were acclimated for 18 h. Statistical analysis focused on data collected during 48 h across two complete cycles of lights on (white bars) and lights off (dark bars and gray background). Recordings continued for a subsequent 6 h to show the final wake/sleep transition. In Sarm1 WT mice (a), the time spent sleeping per hour is significantly different between sham and TBI, with the injured mice appearing to sleep less during the normal sleeping period when lights are on. In Sarm1 KO mice (b) the sleep pattern was not different between sham and TBI conditions during the 48 h data collection period. c TBI significantly reduced the time spent sleeping for Sarm1 WT mice during the normal sleeping period when lights are on. Sarm1 KO mice did not exhibit sleep loss after TBI. d During the dark period, sleep time was not different based on injury or genotype. Sarm1 WT: n = 8 sham, n = 10 TBI. Sarm1 KO: n = 9 sham, n = 10 TBI. ns = not significant. Further statistical details are provided in Additional File 1: Table S5

Discussion

The combined results from this study support a direct role of axonal injury in post-traumatic neurodegeneration and provide key pre-clinical evidence for TBI as a clinical indication for treatments to inhibit SARM1. Genetic inactivation of the gene for SARM1, which drives a conserved axon degeneration pathway, had a beneficial effect on chronic white matter injury after TBI. Analysis of CC atrophy with MRI, which is used clinically as a measure of post-traumatic neurodegeneration, was an effective outcome measure in mice. Complementary neuropathological techniques validated CC atrophy and demonstrated that inactivation of the Sarm1 gene had beneficial effects on chronic stage axon damage, demyelination, and neuroinflammation. Importantly, Sarm1 knockout preserved healthy axons and prevented the progression of CC atrophy after TBI. Sarm1 knockout also improved motor learning and normalized time spent sleeping which, together with the pathological and radiological benefits, indicate improved outcome trajectory after TBI.

The current study is the first to use MRI as a translational measure of CC atrophy and to show beneficial effects of Sarm1 inactivation at a chronic TBI stage. Based on histological measures of CC width, our prior studies in this TBI model did not detect significant CC atrophy at 3 days or at 1, 2, 4 or 6 weeks post-injury [52, 61]. In contrast, significant CC atrophy was evident by histological measures at the longer time point of 8 weeks post-TBI [52, 53]. CC atrophy is an important clinical indicator of post-traumatic neurodegeneration that is associated with chronic stage TBI [30]. We now show significant CC atrophy in live mice using quantitative MRI at 10 weeks post-injury that is validated by neuropathology in C57BL/6 mice (Additional File 1: Figure S2) and in Sarm1 WT mice (Figs. 1a, 2c, 3e). Significantly, at this 10 week time point, the MRI and neuropathology measures of CC atrophy are attenuated in Sarm1 KO mice (Figs. 1a, 2f, 3e).

Longitudinal MRI studies of the CC in Sarm1 WT and KO mice included analysis for DTI FA as a measure of white matter microstructural integrity [91, 94]. Reduced FA values indicated an injury effect at 3 days and at 10 weeks after TBI, as compared to baseline (Fig. 2i–k; Additional File 1: Figure S2). A main effect of Sarm1 genotype was only observed for the AD parameter (Fig. 2j) that is most often associated with axonal anisotropy within white matter voxels. Interpreting reduced AD as an indicator of axon pathology and increased RD as an indicator of myelin pathology can be useful when each pathology predominates [79, 93]. The presence of simultaneous pathology of axon damage and demyelination is more difficult to detect and interpret using DTI, and is further complicated in the presence of significant edema or neuroinflammation [91, 93]. Histological measures confirm the presence of simultaneous axon damage, demyelination, and neuroinflammation at 10 weeks after TBI along with significant reduction of each pathology in Sarm1 KO mice (Figs. 1, 3, 4), which is not fully appreciated using the DTI parameters (Fig. 2i–k). Improved detection of axon damage may be possible in future studies based on recent advances in multidimensional MRI to detect diffuse axonal injury lesions in postmortem human TBI [10].

Prior studies have shown significant axon protection in Sarm1 KO mice in the acute (2 h—3 days) or chronic (2–6 months) phase after closed head TBI based on β-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP) or neurofilament immunohistochemistry [35, 52, 58], or using Thy1-YFP fluorescence to visualize axonal varicosities [52, 96]. Our prior studies at 8 weeks post-injury using immunohistochemistry for MOG in Thy1-YFP-16 mice crossed to the Sarm1 line also showed CC atrophy and myelin loss in Sarm1 WT mice that was not present in Sarm1 KO mice, but without a significant difference based on genotype [52]. Similar analysis of MOG immunohistochemistry in the current experiments showed that CC atrophy and myelin loss were more evident by 10 weeks in Sarm1 WT mice with a significant genotype effect of reduction in both pathological features and in axon damage in Sarm1 KO mice (Fig. 3).

Our EM analysis of axon protection is extremely powerful in providing highly sensitive and specific analysis of axon and myelin pathology at the level of individual axons. Our MRI time points for scans in live mice (Fig. 2) are matched with EM data of axon and myelin pathology at 3 days [52] and 10 weeks (Fig. 1) post-TBI in Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO littermates. The current 10 week EM data in Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO mice (Fig. 1) characterizes the critical chronic TBI stage to demonstrate long term benefit of Sarm1 knockout for axon and myelin pathology.

The progression of axon and myelin pathology identified by EM in Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO mice indicates an intriguing interaction across acute (3 days), late (6 weeks), and chronic (10 weeks) stages post-injury. In Sarm1 WT mice, TBI significantly reduced the intact myelinated axons to 56.6% of sham levels at 3 days [52] and to 72.3% of sham levels at 10 weeks (Fig. 1b). Yet, at the intervening 6 week time point, TBI only reduced the intact myelinated axons to 84.7% of shams, which was not a significant reduction [52]. In addition, corresponding axon damage in Sarm1 WT mice post-TBI was less frequent at 6 weeks and equated to only 60.4% and 56.9% of the respective 3 day [52] and 10 week levels (Fig. 1k). A possible explanation for this pattern of attenuated pathology at 6 weeks in TBI versus sham Sarm1 WT mice is that early axon damage may undergo a degree of recovery or stabilization of vulnerable axons between 3 days and 6 weeks post-TBI but subsequently axon damage progresses and leads to significant CC atrophy by 10 weeks post-TBI. Changes in mitochondrial pathology, an early feature of axonal injury[68, 92], also appear in agreement with this possibility. In Sarm1 WT mice, axons with abnormal mitochondria are significantly increased at 3 days [52] and 10 weeks (Fig. 1l) after TBI but not at 6 weeks post-injury [52]. Importantly, significant benefit from Sarm1 knockout was observed during the acute (3 day)[52] and chronic (10 week; Fig. 1) stages of more marked axon damage and mitochondrial pathology in Sarm1 WT mice.

EM quantification of abnormal swollen mitochondria as an early feature of axonal injury linked to Wallerian degeneration [90, 92] has important implications for the SARM1 pathway [37, 48]. Mitochondrial dysfunction challenges axon energy metabolism and creates a vulnerable axon state [37, 68]. Mitochondrial stress, trauma or other insults lead to loss of nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyl-transferase 2 (NMNAT2), an NAD-synthesizing enzyme, in axons that depletes NAD + and raises the level of its precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) [21, 48]. Low NAD + and high NMN levels regulate release of auto-inhibition of SARM1 NADase activity, which further depletes NAD + and axon energy stores [12, 22, 39, 76, 80]. Axons with swollen mitochondria were significantly increased at 3 days after TBI in Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO mice [52]. Compared to this acute 3 day data, axons with swollen mitochondria were less frequent at 10 weeks but still significantly increased after TBI in Sarm1 WT mice (Fig. 1), which indicates the potential for continued activation of SARM1 in chronic TBI.

EM identifies damaged axons based on breakdown and compaction of the cytoskeleton and/or accumulated vesicles due to impaired axonal transport (Fig. 1). The frequency of damaged axons and the effect of Sarm1 knockout is very similar at the 10 week time point (Fig. 1) as compared to 3 days post-TBI [52]. The slow clearance of degenerating axons in the CNS may play a part in this result [89]. Alternatively, surviving axons may succumb to insults in a late phase after TBI and Sarm1 knockout may have on ongoing benefit across acute and chronic time points. For example, axons continue to initiate Wallerian degeneration long after stretch injury that models TBI forces [56]. Clinically, persistent neuroinflammation in white matter is associated with axon damage in the CC in human postmortem cases several years after TBI [40].

Finally, EM is the gold standard to quantify demyelination, i.e. loss of the myelin sheath around otherwise healthy axons. TBI-induced demyelination in Sarm1 WT mice was significantly reduced in Sarm1 KO mice at 10 weeks so that TBI levels were similar to shams (Fig. 1). Sarm1 is expressed mainly in neurons but a low level of expression in oligodendrocyte lineage cells could have a role in the lack of TBI-induced demyelination in Sarm1 KO mice [44]. However, the effect of Sarm1 inactivation may not be an autonomous effect in myelinating oligodendrocytes as zebrafish studies have shown a glioprotective effect of Sarm1 deletion is dependent on axon protection [86]. Loss of myelin along otherwise healthy axons can slow information processing speed and desynchronize neural circuits; myelin also protects from insults and provides trophic support to axons [6]. Therefore, demyelination that is resolved by Sarm1 knockout may have ongoing benefit at 10 weeks post-TBI that can impact axon health and neural circuit function.

Pathological and structural benefits of Sarm1 knockout were complemented by behavioral studies that show beneficial effects on motor learning and sleep assessments (Figs. 5, 6) [2, 55]. Our results extend beyond previous reports in Sarm1 KO mice to now examine complex behaviors during the chronic phase post-TBI. Studies in a weight drop model of TBI used the neurological severity score battery of simple tasks from 2 h through 4 weeks post-TBI and found reduced deficits in Sarm1 KO versus Sarm1 WT mice only during the first week [35]. Studies of repetitive TBI showed normalization toward sham responses in Sarm1 KO for motor performance and memory deficits during the first week and context fear discrimination at 4 weeks [58]. With assessments conducted beyond 8 weeks post-TBI, Sarm1 knockout improved motor learning (Fig. 5) and normalized the time spent sleeping (Fig. 6). The Miss-step wheel running system (Fig. 5) and the piezoelectric sleep system (Fig. 6) use automated multi-day continuous data collection of spontaneous complex behaviors, which may be advantageous for analysis of subtle deficits after TBI. The piezoelectric sleep system may be particularly beneficial for use in repeated testing for longitudinal studies of sleep to non-invasively screen acute through chronic stages. The Miss-step wheel assessment also is of interest for potential relevance to gait performance deficits, including pace, that have been recently identified in mild TBI patients with persistent symptoms [55].

Limitations of the experimental design should be considered in the interpretation of the results. The Sarm1 KO mice have been backcrossed to the C57BL/6 strain (see methods) but may harbor genes associated with the embryonic stem cell origin in the 129 background strain [88]. However, the findings regarding axon degeneration in this line of Sarm1 KO mice have been confirmed in additional Sarm1 KO mice generated using CRISPR technology [88]. In addition, all experiments in the current study used Sarm1 WT and Sarm1 KO littermates to minimize the variability due to genetic background. The assessment of sleep disorders after TBI used a non-invasive screening approach to avoid surgical procedures and electrode placement through skull burr holes that would be required for electrophysiology. The sleep behavior in the Sarm1 KO mice appears normalized to the sham sleep pattern. Based on these findings, electrophysiological recordings would now be of interest to further validate this sleep assessment method relative to the genetic modification and injury model, and for more in-depth analysis of sleep architecture that could further the translational comparison to sleep disorders in TBi patients. Finally, the neuropathological and radiological analyses focused on white matter, and specifically the CC. Further studies would be of interest to better understand the relationship of axon damage and the progression of white matter pathology relative to broader neural circuits and gray matter pathology, including analysis of synapse loss that is associated with chronic neuroinflammation after TBI [1].

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that genetic inactivation of Sarm1 improves the outcome trajectory after TBI based on pathological, radiological, and functional measures. These studies advance strategies to develop TBI treatments for axon damage by demonstrating a genetic proof-of-concept of the long-term benefit of Sarm1 inactivation in mice. The therapeutic potential of SARM1 inhibitors has drawn intense interest and a small molecule inhibitor of SARM1 has already been developed that recapitulates in vitro aspects of the Sarm1 KO phenotype [37, 49, 77]. The current studies also highlight CC atrophy as an important outcome measure of white matter degeneration after TBI in mice that may have translational relevance as a biomarker for clinical studies [29]. Our results of Sarm1 genetic inactivation advance white matter degeneration as a tractable therapeutic target for TBI and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, with potential application to other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis [4, 15, 17, 73].