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The myth of the immature barrier systems in the developing brain: role in perinatal brain injury
Author(s) -
Mallard Carina,
Ek C. Joakim,
Vexler Zinaida S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jp274938
Subject(s) - neuroscience , blood–brain barrier , central nervous system , brain development , inflammation , homeostasis , medicine , brain damage , biology , immunology
Central nervous system homeostasis is maintained by cellular barriers that protect the brain from external environmental changes and protect the CNS from harmful molecules and pathogens in the blood. Historically, for many years these barriers were thought of as immature, with limited functions, during brain development. In this review, we will present advances in the understanding of the barrier systems during development and evidence to show that in fact the barriers serve many important neurodevelopmental functions and that fetal and newborn brains are well protected. We will also discuss how ischaemic injury or systemic inflammation may breach the integrity of the barriers in the developing brain.