OBJECTIVES: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), calpain, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) are reported to participate in inflammatory reactions in pathologic conditions and are involved in traumatic brain injury. The objective of this study was to investigate whether PARP participates in inflammation related to calpain and NF-kB in a mouse model of controlled cortical impact (CCI). METHODS: PJ34 (10 mg/kg), a selective PARP inhibitor, was administered intraperitoneally 5 minutes and 8 hours after experimental CCI. We then performed a histopathologic analysis, and we measured calpain activity and protein levels in all animals. The cytosolic, mitochondria, and nuclear fractions were prepared and used to determine the levels of PARP, calpastatin, NF-kappa B p65, inhibitory-kappa B-alpha, tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-1 beta, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2. We then measured blood-brain barrier disruption using electron microscopy at 6 and 24 hours after CCI. RESULTS: Treatment with PJ34 markedly reduced the extent of both cerebral contusion and edema, improved neurologic scores, and attenuated blood-brain barrier damage resulting from CCI. Our data showed that the cytosolic and nuclear fractions of calpain and NF-kappa B were up-regulated in the injured cortex and that these changes were reversed by PJ34. Moreover, PJ34 significantly enhanced the calpastatin and inhibitory-kappa B levels and decreased the levels of inflammatory mediators. CONCLUSIONS: PARP inhibition by PJ34 suppresses the overactivation of calpain and the production of inflammatory factors that are caused by NF-kappa B activation and attenuates neuronal cell death in a mouse model of CCI.