BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that over-expression of 
Neuroglobin (Ngb) is neuroprotective against hypoxic/ischemic brain injuries. In 
this study we tested the neuroprotective effects of Ngb over-expression against 
traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice.
RESULTS: Both Ngb over-expression transgenic (Ngb-Tg) and wild-type (WT) control 
mice were subjected to TBI induced by a controlled cortical impact (CCI) device. 
TBI significantly increased Ngb expression in the brains of both WT and Ngb-Tg 
mice, but Ngb-Tg mice had significantly higher Ngb protein levels at the 
pre-injury baseline and post-TBI. Production of oxidative tissue damage 
biomarker 3NT in the brain was significantly reduced in Ngb-Tg mice compared to 
WT controls at 6 hours after TBI. The traumatic brain lesion volume was 
significantly reduced in Ngb Tg mice compared to WT mice at 3 weeks after TBI; 
however, there were no significant differences in the recovery of sensorimotor 
and spatial memory functional deficits between Ngb-Tg and WT control mice for up 
to 3 weeks after TBI.
CONCLUSION: Ngb over-expression reduced traumatic lesion volume, which might 
partially be achieved by decreasing oxidative stress.