Contributions of the glycocalyx, endothelium, and extravascular compartment to the blood–brain barrier Article Swipe

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Glycocalyx Blood–brain barrier Alexa Fluor Biophysics Basement membrane Fluorescein Endothelium Dextran Chemistry Compartment (ship) Vascular permeability Parenchyma Tight junction Extravasation Astrocyte Biology Cell biology Pathology Biochemistry Immunology Neuroscience Medicine Central nervous system Physics Endocrinology Quantum mechanics Fluorescence Geology Oceanography

Nikolay Kutuzov , Henrik Flyvbjerg , Martin Lauritzen ·

YOU? · · 2018 · Open Access · · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1802155115 · OA: W2891697907

Significance The vascular endothelium constitutes the main barrier that restricts the transport of molecules from blood to brain. However, the barrier properties of structures adjacent to the vascular endothelium are understudied. Based on two-photon microscopy imaging of single cortical capillaries, we found that the blood–brain barrier (BBB) consisted of at least three elements: the endothelial glycocalyx, which forms a barrier on the blood side to large but not small molecules; the endothelium; and the basement membrane and astrocyte endfeet—the final line of defense on the brain side. All three elements restricted permeation of large molecules and should be taken into account when studying drug delivery and disease states.