The ketone ester, 3-hydroxybutyl-3-hydroxybutyrate, attenuates neurobehavioral deficits and improves neuropathology following controlled cortical impact in male rats

In 32 male Sprague Dawley rats, traumatic brain injury was induced by controlled cortical impact, with sham animals receiving no impact. The ketone monoester 3-hydroxybutyl-3-hydroxybutyrate was given daily by oral gavage (0.5 ml/kg/day) and at 0.3 percent in drinking water, starting immediately after injury. At four weeks, the total Neurobehavioral Severity Scale-Revised score was 1.2 in the ketone ester group versus 4.4 with water, and lesion volume was 10 mm3 versus 47 mm3 (p < 0.001). The ketone ester also decreased Iba1 and GFAP stained areas in the brain regions analyzed.