THE IMPORTANCE OF CEREBRAL ARTERIOLES IN ALTERATIONS OF THE BLOOD-BRAIN-BARRIER

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (3) , 262-268
Abstract
Light microscopy, EM and quantitative estimates of pinocytotic activity in cerebral arterioles and capillaries were performed in 2 different rat models of altered blood-brain barrier permeability to determine the site of initially increased vesicular transport. Seizures were produced by 20 consecutive electroshocks, and ischemic neuronal damage was produced by a 30 min period of combined right common carotid artery occlusion and systemic hypoxia. Horseradish peroxidase was used to evaluate blood-brain barrier permeability. Serial 1 .mu.m sections showed an arteriole within most foci of horseradish peroxidase extravasation. There were areas of brain in both experimental groups in which the only permeable vessels were arterioles, and in 1 ischemic animal the only permeable vessels were arterioles. Pinocytotic activity was determined in capillaries and arterioles and expressed as the number of horseradish peroxidase-containing pinocytotic vesicles per square millimeter of endothelial cytoplasmic area .+-. SE. The pinocytotic activity in capillaries and arterioles, respectively, was 12.2 .+-. 5.4 and 6.7 .+-. 3.0 in normal rats, 86.7 .+-. 22.1 and 267 .+-. 46.1 after seizures and 52.7 .+-. 10.6 and 91.2 .+-. 33.2 following cerebral ischemia. Arterioles are important in maintaining and altering the blood-brain barrier. Abnormal blood-brain barrier permeability occurs first within the arteriole.

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