Developmental aspects of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and rat brain endothelial (RBE4) cells as in vitro model for studies on chlorpyrifos transport

Jian Yang, Michael Aschner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is characterized by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a restrictive barrier endowed with the maintenance of homeostatic control of an optimal milieu within the brain. Whereas in tissues other than the CNS, concentrations of various metabolites (amino acids, K+) can undergo frequent fluctuations, the CNS must keep rigorous control over the extracellular cerebral fluid composition, preventing the mirroring of transient fluctuations in blood, because abrupt changes in these metabolites can translate to aberrant CNS function. The BBB is a specialized structure accomplished by individual endothelial cells that are continuously linked by tight junctions. This brief review will address pertinent issues to development of the BBB. Particular emphasis will be directed at the role of astrocytes in the induction and maintenance of the restrictive properties of this barrier, and the utility of in vitro culture models in surveying transport kinetics, exemplified by recent studies with the pesticide, chlorpyrifos.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)741-745
Number of pages5
JournalNeurotoxicology
Volume24
Issue number4-5
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Astrocytes
  • Blood-brain barrier
  • Central nervous system
  • Chlorpyrifos
  • Rat brain endothelial

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Toxicology

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