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Hydraulic conductivity and solute permeability of an in vitro blood‐brain barrier (BBB) model
Author(s) -
Fu Bingmei,
Li Guanglei,
Simon Melissa,
Shi Zhongdong,
Cancel Limary,
Morrison Barclay,
Tarbell John
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.1020.2
Subject(s) - blood–brain barrier , biophysics , in vivo , chemistry , in vitro , microvessel , permeability (electromagnetism) , membrane , hydraulic conductivity , tight junction , central nervous system , biology , biochemistry , immunology , neuroscience , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , soil water
The BBB is a dynamic interface between the circulation system and the central nervous system (CNS). It serves as a barrier to potentially harmful molecules, and a facilitator for transport of nutrients to ensure an optimal microenvironment in CNS. However, it also provides a major obstacle for drug delivery to the brain for the treatment of CNS disorders. It is thus very important to investigate the transport properties of the BBB. In our study, an in vitro BBB model was developed by culturing mouse brain microvessel endothelial cells (bENd3, ATCC, VA) into monolayer on a Transwell system (0.4 μm pore size, 4x10 6 pores/cm 2 , Corning, NY). Using a bubble tracker system and an automated fluorometer system, we quantified the hydraulic conductivity (Lp) and solute permeability (P) of this in vitro BBB model, respectively. The measured L p is 1.5 (±0.34, n=2) x10 −7 cm/s/cmH 2 O. The measured P to TMR‐Dextran 70K and P to TMR‐Dextran 10K are 0.57 (±0.13, n=8) and 1.6 (±0.34, n=6) ×10 −6 cm/s, respectively. While P values of this in vitro model for both solutes are only several times larger than the in vivo data (Yuan et al., 2008), Lp is two orders of magnitude larger. Our results suggest that the basement membrane and astrocyte processes, which surround the endothelium, contribute significantly to the BBB permeability. A co‐culture system with these components needs to be developed. Supported by the Andrew Grove Foundation.