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Junior Seau's Brain Tissue Released For Study

Junior Seau announces his retirement from the NFL at the Chargers Training Facility in San Diego, Aug. 14, 2006.
Donald Miralle
Junior Seau announces his retirement from the NFL at the Chargers Training Facility in San Diego, Aug. 14, 2006.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office announced the family of Junior Seau has donated some of the former Charger's brain tissue for research amid questions about whether damage from his football career contributed to his decision to commit suicide.

Sarah Gordon of the medical examiner's office said Thursday that the preserved tissue held by the office was recently released to the National Institutes of Health for study. She said it was done at the request of Seau's family and has no information about what type of study will be performed.

The 43-year-old former NFL linebacker shot himself in the chest at his Oceanside home in May, less than 2 1/2 years after ending his Pro Bowl career.