In vitro model of the blood-brain barrier established by co-culture of primary cerebral microvascular endothelial and astrocyte cells

• Main Authors: Yan Wang, Ning Wang, Biao Cai, Guang-yun Wang, Jing Li, Xing-xing Piao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
• Series: Neural Regeneration Research
• Subjects: nerve regeneration; blood-brain barrier; astrocytes; brain microvascular endothelial cells; permeability; co-culture; Transwell chamber; neural regeneration
• Online Access: http://www.nrronline.org/article.asp?issn=1673-5374;year=2015;volume=10;issue=12;spage=2011;epage=2017;aulast=Wang
• ISSN: 1673-5374

Drugs for the treatment and prevention of nervous system diseases must permeate the blood-brain barrier to take effect. In vitro models of the blood-brain barrier are therefore important in the investigation of drug permeation mechanisms. However, to date, no unified method has been described for establishing a blood-brain barrier model. Here, we modified an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier by seeding brain microvascular endothelial cells and astrocytes from newborn rats on a polyester Transwell cell culture membrane with 0.4-µm pores, and conducted transepithelial electrical resistance measurements, leakage tests and assays for specific blood-brain barrier enzymes. We show that the permeability of our model is as low as that of the blood-brain barrier in vivo. Our model will be a valuable tool in the study of the mechanisms of action of neuroprotective drugs.