海马结构游离锌变化与神经元缺血性损伤关系的探讨

目的：探讨前脑缺血／再灌注后海马结构游离Zn^2 变化与神经元缺血性迟发损伤之间的关系。方法：建立大鼠前脑缺血／再灌注模型;采用TSQ荧光法检测海马神经元内游离Zn^2 变化;观察侧脑室注入Zn^2 螯合剂对海马结构神经元内游离Zn^2 含量和对其病理变化的影响。结果：①再灌注后48h,CA3区、齿状回门、CA1区起和放射层的Zn^2 荧光强度较缺血前减弱;再灌注后72－96h海马结构背景荧光强度恢复至缺血前水平,但在CA1区和齿状回门锥体细胞层出现逐渐增多的斑点状荧光;再灌注后7d,荧光强度基本恢复正常;②侧脑室内注入Zn^2 螯合剂CaEDTA能降低细胞内游离Zn^2 含量,减轻海马CA1区神经元损伤。结论：①前脑缺血／再灌注后,海马神经元突触前末梢游离Zn^2 的释放和扩散增加,Zn^2 移位至突触后神经元并参与神经元缺血性损伤;②膜不通透性Zn^2 螯合剂CaEDTA可减轻海马神经元缺血性损伤。     

白藜芦醇通过介导eNOS表达促进局灶脑缺血/再灌注大鼠脑内血管再生

目的探讨eNOS在白藜芦醇促进局灶脑缺血/再灌注大鼠大脑缺血皮质区血管再生中的作用。方法 80只SD雄性大鼠随机分为假手术组(Sham组)、模型组(I/R组)、模型+白藜芦醇组(I/RB组)、模型+白藜芦醇+eNOS特异性拮抗剂L-NAME组(I/RBL组)。采用线栓法制备大鼠局灶脑缺血/再灌注模型,再灌注后2h后腹腔注射白藜芦醇,连续7d,以再灌注后24h、48h、7d为观察时相点。对I/R、I/RB和I/RBL组大鼠行改良神经功能缺损程度评分,HE染色观察大脑缺血皮质区病理结构变化,Western Blot检测eNOS蛋白表达,免疫组织化学检测VEGF、CD34表达情况,荧光定量PCR检测eNOS mRNA表达。结果 I/RB组再灌注后各时间点大鼠大脑缺血皮质区eNOS蛋白及mRNA、VEGF蛋白表达较I/R组明显升高,侧脑室注射L-NAME阻断eNOS作用后,I/RBL组eNOS、VEGF表达较I/RB组降低。同时,白藜芦醇可有效促进缺血后神经功能恢复、改善缺血损伤后脑组织病理变化,增加CD34~+微血管密度。结论白藜芦醇可能通过上调局灶脑缺血/再灌注大鼠大脑缺血皮质区eNOS和VEGF表达,促进脑微血管再生,发挥缺血损伤后脑保护作用。     

Ephrin-B2促进大鼠局灶脑缺血再灌注后VEGF表达及血管新生

目的:探讨Ephrin-B2对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后脑组织中血管新生的调节作用及其可能的机制。方法:雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组及、缺血再灌注组及Ephrin-B2干预组,后两组再分为4天、7天、14天、28天亚组;线栓法制备局灶性大脑中动脉缺血再灌注模型;改良神经功能评分(modified neurological severity scores mNSS)评分法对各时间点模型进行评分;Western blot及荧光定量PCR检测缺血脑组织中血管内皮生长因子(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor VEGF)的表达;以免疫荧光双标法定位VEGF表达的细胞类型;以CD31+BrdU计数缺血半暗带中新生微血管密度(microvessel densityMVD)。结果:Ephrin-B2干预组与缺血再灌注组各时间点亚组比较,新生微血管密度测定计数较缺血再灌注组均显著增加(P0.05),神经功能评分均显著降低(P0.05),VEGF mRNA水平及蛋白表达水平均显著增加(P0.05),VEGF主要表达于CD31阳性的血管内皮细胞。结论:Ephrin-B2通过上调VEGF的表达促进脑缺血再灌注后缺血半暗带血管新生,从而促进神经功能缺失的修复。     

凝集素受体在正常及缺氧—再给氧脑微血管内皮细胞的表达

本文应用凝集素亲和细胞化学的方法,通过荧光标记的麦胚凝集素（ＦＩＴＣ－ＷＧＡ）对培养的大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞进行染色,观察了ＷＧＡ凝集素受体在缺氧－再给氧后脑微血管内皮细胞上的表达。通过图像分析定量细胞表面的荧光强度,发现脑微血管内皮细胞单纯缺氧６小时后凝集素受体表达与正常对照组相比无明显变化;其显著改变发生于再给氧１小时后,ＷＧＡ的结合位点明显增加,荧光强度达峰值;再给氧３小时及６小时后有所下降,但与正常对照组相比仍具有显著性差异。上述结果与我们以往的动物在体实验,即大鼠脑缺血－再灌注后内皮细胞ＷＧＡ受体的表达趋势相吻合。说明脑微血管内皮细胞凝集素受体在细胞损伤后发生改变,并显示了在单纯缺血损伤和再灌注损伤的表达有所不同,它与其它内皮损伤后的变化,如细胞因子及其受体、粘附分子等的关系有待于深入研究     

5-脂氧合酶（5-LOX）及代谢产物在异氟醚预处理脑保护作用中的研究进展

缺血性脑血管疾病（Ischemia Cerebral Vascular Disease,ICVD）可造成不同程度的神经功能障碍,以其高发病率、高致残率、高复发率、高死亡率严重威胁着人们的身体健康。而脑组织缺血后再灌注损伤即脑缺血再灌注损伤（ischemia-reperfusion injury）是脑缺血性疾病的最主要的损伤原因之一,因此阐明脑缺血再灌注损伤发生发展的病理生理机制、探寻有效的预防保护措施成为当今研究的重点问题。本文回顾、归纳脑缺血再灌注损伤的相关分子机制及异氟醚预处理对脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用,分析5-脂氧合酶及其代谢产物在脑缺血再灌注损伤中的作用及其与其他分子的相互关系,旨在探讨5-脂氧合酶及其代谢产物在异氟醚预处理保护脑缺血再灌注损伤中可能起到的作用。为脑缺血再灌注损伤的防治提供更多的理论依据。     

参芎注射液对脑缺血再灌注大鼠的神经元保护作用

目的:观察参芎注射液对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后神经细胞凋亡及内质网应激相关因子葡萄糖调节蛋白/免疫球蛋白结合蛋白(GRP78/Bip)表达的影响.方法:100只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组、假手术组、脑缺血再灌注组、参芎治疗组;后两组根据再灌注时间不同各分为6、12、24、72 h四个亚组;采用大鼠大脑中动脉线栓法制备局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型.TUNEL法观察细胞凋亡情况;免疫组化和RT-PCR法检测各实验组中缺血周围区GRP78/Bip的表达.结果:TUNEL法表明参芎治疗组大鼠大脑神经细胞凋亡程度较缺血再灌注组明显减轻.免疫组化和RT-PCR检测均发现各时间点缺血再灌注组大鼠GRP78/Bip表达高于假手术组及正常组;脑缺血再灌注组及参芎治疗组GRP78/Bip的表达于缺血后12 h最高,72 h恢复至正常水平,且均呈现先升高后降低的趋势;各时间点缺血再灌注组GRP78/Bip表达均高于参芎治疗组.结论:再灌注损伤后12 h内出现GRP78/Bip表达升高.参芎注射液可以下调其表达,从而可能通过减轻内质网应激而减轻缺血再灌注损伤起到神经元保护的作用.     

大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤中iNOS在大脑皮层和海马的表达

目的研究局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤中iNOS在不同脑区的表达.方法用改良的血管内栓线技术制造大鼠局灶性脑缺血与再灌注模型,应用免疫组织化学技术检测脑组织中的iNOS的表达.结果 (1)脑缺血再灌注损伤24h后,缺血组缺血侧大脑皮层、海马CA1区、CA3区神经元iNOS的表达显著增强,与正常对照组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05);(2)脑缺血再灌注损伤24h后,缺血组对照侧大脑皮层、海马CA1区、CA3区神经元iNOS的表达也明显增强,与正常对照组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05);(3) 与对照侧比较,脑缺血再灌注大鼠缺血侧皮质的iNOS表达显著增强(P<0.05),而海马CA1区、CA3区缺血侧的iNOS表达与对照侧相比无显著性差异(P>0.05).结论局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤后,缺血侧皮层和海马iNOS表达显著升高,未缺血脑区(对照侧)iNOS反应性也较对照组者升高.     

何首乌提取物减轻大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤和上调脑内UCP4蛋白水平

目的研究何首乌提取物对脑缺血再灌注损伤UCP4的影响,初步探讨其可能的作用机制。方法健康雄性SD大鼠采用线栓法复制局灶性脑缺血(MCAO)再灌注损伤模型,缺血2h后再灌注6h或24h,部分缺血再灌注模型大鼠分别灌胃不同浓度何首乌口服液。免疫组织化学染色和Western blot检测脑内UCP4表达,TTC染色检测脑梗死面积。结果在脑缺血再灌注6h后损伤,UCP4蛋白在海马内表达增高,再灌注24h后表达降低;何首乌提取物能浓度依赖性减少脑缺血再灌注损伤的脑梗死面积和上调UCP4表达。结论何首乌提取物能明显改善大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤,其机制可能与脑内线粒体蛋白UCP4表达升高,保护神经元有关。     

缺血后适应对局灶性脑缺血/再灌注大鼠caspase-3表达的影响

目的：探讨缺血后适应对大鼠局灶性脑缺血/再灌注损伤后caspase-3表达的影响。方法：大脑中动脉线拴法复制大鼠局灶性脑缺血/再灌注损伤动物模型。将30只雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组（n=10）：假手术组（sham组）、缺血/再灌注（I/R）组和缺血后适应（IP）组。利用原位缺口末端标记法观察神经细胞凋亡的变化。应用Western blot检测大鼠局灶性脑缺血/再灌注损伤后caspase-3蛋白表达水平的变化。结果：大鼠脑缺血/再灌注后凋亡细胞数量和caspase-3蛋白表达水平均显著升高,而缺血后适应组凋亡细胞数量和caspase-3蛋白表达水平均显著低于缺血/再灌注组（P〈0.01）。结论：缺血后适应可抑制大鼠脑缺血/再灌注后细胞凋亡的发生,此作用可能与下调caspase-3蛋白表达有关。     

电针通过eNOS促进局灶脑缺血/再灌注大鼠脑缺血皮质区血管再生

目的观察电针对局灶脑缺血/再灌注大鼠大脑缺血皮质区e NOS、MMP-9表达及CD34+微血管密度变化的影响,探讨电针促进大脑缺血皮质区血管再生的机制。方法 120只SD雄性大鼠随机分为正常组(NC组)、模型组(I/R组)、模型+电针组(I/RE组)、模型+电针+e NOS特异性拮抗剂L-NAME组(I/REL组)。采用线栓法制备大鼠局灶脑缺血/再灌注模型,缺血90min后将I/R、I/RE和I/REL组分各为再灌注1d、3d和7d三个亚组。取大鼠"百会"穴(GV 20)及左侧"四关"穴(合谷LI 4/太冲LR 3)为电针穴位,刺激时间为20min/d,最长持续7d。采用免疫组化法检测各组大脑缺血皮质区e NOS、MMP-9和CD34表达,荧光定量PCR技术检测大脑缺血皮质区e NOS mRNA表达。结果与NC组比较,I/R、I/RE与I/REL组大脑缺血皮质区e NOS mRNA及蛋白表达随再灌注时间延长呈进行性增加,与I/R组比较,I/RE组各时间点e NOS mRNA及蛋白表达均显著升高,在L-NAME作用下,I/REL组e NOS mRNA及蛋白表达明显低于I/RE组。再灌注后1d、3d,I/RE组MMP-9表达明显低于I/R和I/REL组,7d时I/RE组MMP-9表达较I/R、I/REL组升高。I/RE组各时间点CD34+微血管密度升高较I/R组显著,I/REL组微血管密度明显低于I/RE组。结论电针可通过上调局灶脑缺血/再灌注大鼠脑缺血皮质区e NOS和MMP-9表达,促进血管再生。     

Caveolin-1 regulates nitric oxide-mediated matrix metalloproteinases activity and blood-brain barrier permeability in focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury

The roles of caveolin-1 (cav-1) in regulating blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability are unclear yet. We previously reported that cav-1 was down-regulated and the production of nitric oxide (NO) induced the loss of cav-1 in focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. The present study aims to address whether the loss of cav-1 impacts on BBB permeability and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. We found that focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion down-regulated the expression of cav-1 in isolated cortex microvessels, hippocampus, and cortex of ischemic brain. The down-regulation of cav-1 was correlated with the increased MMP-2 and -9 activities, decreased tight junction (TJ) protein zonula occludens (ZO)-1 expression and enhanced BBB permeability. Treatment of N(G) -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME, a non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor] reserved the expression of cav-1, inhibited MMPs activity, and reduced BBB permeability. To elucidate the roles of cav-1 in regulating MMPs and BBB permeability, we used two approaches including cav-1 knockdown in cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) in vitro and cav-1 knockout (KO) mice in vivo. Cav-1 knockdown remarkably increased MMPs activity in BMECs. Meanwhile, with focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, cav-1 deficiency mice displayed higher MMPs activities and BBB permeability than wild-type mice. Interestingly, the effects of L-NAME on MMPs activity and BBB permeability was partly reversed in cav-1 deficiency mice. These results, when taken together, suggest that cav-1 plays important roles in regulating MMPs activity and BBB permeability in focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. The effects of L-NAME on MMPs activity and BBB permeability are partly mediated by preservation of cav-1.     

Nicotine aggravates the brain postischemic inflammatory response

A substantial body of evidence suggests that nicotine adversely affects cerebral blood flow and the blood-brain barrier and is a risk factor for stroke. The present study investigated the effect of nicotine on cerebrovascular endothelium under basal and ischemia/reperfusion injury under in vivo condition. Nicotine (2 mg/kg sc) was administered to mice over 14 days, which resulted in plasma nicotine levels of ～100 ng/ml, reflecting plasma concentrations in average to heavy smokers. An analysis of the phenotype of isolated brain microvessels after nicotine exposure indicated higher expression of inflammatory mediators, cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-18), chemokines (CCL2 and CX(3)CL1), and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and P-selectins), and this was accompanied by enhanced leukocyte infiltration into brain during ischemia/reperfusion (P < 0.01). Nicotine had a profound effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury; i.e., increased brain infarct size (P < 0.01), worse neurological deficits, and a higher mortality rate. These experiments illuminate, for the first time, how nicotine regulates brain endothelial cell phenotype and postischemic inflammatory response at the brain-vascular interface.     

Influence of the corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) on the brain-blood barrier permeability in cerebral ischemia in rats.

The increase in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and a developing cerebral oedema due to the ischemic infarction appear a few hours, and intensify during a few days, after closing the carotid arteries. It fails to be clear, however, what causes the increase in the microvessels damage, and whether the damage is a secondary result of the vasoactive substances released by the neurones and glia cells damaged by the ischemia. CRH, which plays an essential role in integrative the nervous, endocrine, and immunological systems, has a positive effect on the decrease in the permeability of the BBB damaged by various physical and chemical factors. Therefore, the examination of the CRH role in the cerebral ischemia may prove useful for explaining the processes taking place in the foci of the cerebral infarction and their environment. The experiment was carried out on rats which, 20 minutes before closing of both internal carotid arteries, was administered 10 microg CRH to cerebrospinal fluid via cisterna magna of the brain. The BBB permeability was measured 30 minutes, 3 hours, 3 days, and 7 days after closing the arteries. The experiment has shown the CRH protective effect on the BBB and its consequent effect on the decrease in the BBB permeability which appears in the 3 hours after closing the arteries (p<0.05), and is high significant during the chronic phase of the cerebral ischemia (p<0.03). It can be thus concluded that CRH, by affecting directly the endothelium of the cerebral vessels, decreases the endothelial damage in the acute phase of the ischemia. The decrease is noted to be more significant in the chronic phase of the ischemia; such an effect can be attributed to CRH stimulating the hypothalamic-adrenal axis, and to the secondary activation of the mechanisms decreasing the BBB permeability.     

MiR-539 Targets MMP-9 to Regulate the Permeability of Blood–Brain Barrier in Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury of Brain

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury severely threatens human life, while the potential mechanism underlying it is still need further exploration. The rat model of cerebral I/R injury was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The rat microvascular endothelial cell line bEND.3 was exposed to oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) to mimic ischemic condition in vitro. Evans blue was performed to determine the blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Real-time PCR and western blot were performed to determine gene expression in mRNA and protein level, individually. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to determine the relationship between miR-539 and MMP-9. The infarct volume and BBB permeability of cerebral (I/R) rats were significantly greater than Sham group. The expression of miR-539 was decreased, while MMP-9 was increased in the brain tissues of I/R injury rats and OGD/R pretreated bEND.3. Up-regulated miR-539 in OGD/R pretreated bEND.3 significantly promoted the BBB permeability. MiR-539 targets MMP-9 to regulate its expression. OGD/R treatment significantly promoted the BBB permeability in bEND.3, miR-539 mimic transfection abolished the effects of OGD/R, while co-transfected with pcDNA-MMP-9 abolished the effects of miR-539 mimic. MiR-539 targets MMP-9 and further regulates the BBB permeability in cerebral I/R injury.     

Characteristics of the action of the influenza virus on the microcirculatory vessels in an experiment

The dynamic light-optic and electron microscopic examination of the organs of experimental animals with the influenza infection have revealed the most pronounced pathology in vessels of the lung and brain microcirculation. The early developing perivascular edema around capillaries which is induced by an increase in the transcellular transport without a disturbance of the dense contact integrity is observed in the brain tissue. Variations in the lung microvessels manifested in a rise of the pinocytosis activity of endothelial cells, in a change of the luminal surface profile and damage of the supermembrane layer. A reversible aggregation of plate and erythrocytes was observed in the lung and brain microvessel lumen at early periods. The revealed changes, including the main of them--microvessel permeability disturbance, are associated with the dynamics of the concentration of the influenza virus and its complexes with antibodies in the organs under study.     

Endothelial connexin43 mediates acid-induced increases in pulmonary microvascular permeability

Acid aspiration, a common cause of acute lung injury, leads to alveolar edema. Increase in lung vascular permeability underlies this pathology. To define mechanisms, isolated rat lungs were perfused with autologous blood. Hydrochloric acid and rhodamine-dextran 70 kDa (RDx70) were coinstilled into an alveolus by micropuncture. RDx70 fluorescence was used to establish the spatial distribution of acid. Subsequently, FITC-dextran 20 kDa (FDx20) was infused into microvessels for 60 min followed by a 10-min HEPES-buffered saline wash. During the infusion, FITC fluorescence changes were recorded to quantify the ratio of peak to postwash fluorescence. The ratio, termed normalized fluorescence, was low for acid compared with buffer instillation both in microvessels abutting acid-treated alveoli and those located more than 700 μm away. In contrast, the normalized fluorescence was similar to buffer controls when a higher molecular weight tracer (FITC-dextran 70 kDa) was infused instead of FDx20, suggesting that normalized FDx20 fluorescence faithfully represented microvascular permeability. Inhibiting endothelial connexin43 (Cx43) gap junction communication with Gap27 blunted the acid-induced reduction in normalized fluorescence, although scrambled Gap27 did not have any effect. The blunting was evident not only in microvessels away from the site of injury, but also in those abutting directly injured alveoli. Thus the new fluorescence-based method reveals that acid increases microvascular permeability both at acid-instilled and away sites. Inhibiting endothelial Cx43 blocked the permeability increase even at the direct injury sites. These data indicate for the first time that Cx43-dependent mechanisms mediate acid-induced increases in microvascular permeability. Cx43 may be a therapeutic target in acid injury.     

大鼠脑缺血区细胞间粘附分子ICAM-1表达和LFA-1阳性细胞浸润的研究

研究粘附分子和白细胞与脑缺血／再灌流损伤的病理联系,运用原位杂交和免疫组化技术对36只SD大鼠脑缺血区细胞间粘附分子（ICAM－1）表达和淋巴细胞机能相关抗原（LFA－1）阳性细胞浸润进行了观察。结果显示,脑缺血区的毛细胞血管内皮细胞表达ICAM－1 mRNA发生于脑缺血1h,在脑缺血1h／再灌流8h达到高峰。而脑缺血区毛细血管ICAM－1蛋白质的表达则发生于脑缺血1h／再灌流2h,高峰出现于脑缺血1h／再灌流16h,LFA－1阳性细胞在脑缺血区的聚集发生在脑缺血1h,并随再灌流时间延长,其聚集数量逐渐增加。结果提示,脑缺血／再灌流能诱导缺血区的血管内皮细胞表达ICAM－1 mRNA和蛋白质,进而导致白细胞在脑缺血区的浸润,此可能是脑缺血／再灌流损伤的病理机制之一。     

牛磺酸对大鼠肢体缺血/再灌注后肺组织损伤的保护作用

目的:观察大鼠肢体缺血再灌注(LIR)后肺组织形态学的变化及牛磺酸对其影响.方法:Wistar大鼠随机分为3组,对照组(control)、缺血/再灌注组(LIR)、牛磺酸 缺血/再灌注组(Tau LIR),各组动物通过大体、光镜和透射电镜观察肺组织形态学变化,并测定肺系数和肺通透指数及肺组织活性氧和MDA含量.结果:大鼠LIR后肺组织出现以肺泡毛细血管膜通透性增加为特征的组织细胞损伤,光镜下显示毛细血管扩张充血、血管周围间隙增大、肺泡腔中有大量蛋白渗出物,电镜下可见肺泡上皮细胞之间、毛细血管内皮之间的紧密连接松解;肺系数和肺通透指数升高;肺组织活性氧及MDA含量增加.提前给予外源性牛磺酸可使肺组织损伤变化减轻.结论:牛磺酸对大鼠LIR后肺损伤有保护作用,其保护机理之一与其抗氧化,保护细胞之间的紧密连接有关.     

Stobadine protects against ischemia-reperfusion induced morphological alterations of cerebral microcirculation in dogs

Vascular diseases of the CNS are a major medical, social and economic problem. From the number of causes leading to nervous malfunction and damage, ischemia is most prominent. Thus, neuronal protection from ischemic damage may provide significant preventive and treatment potential. This study was designed to test possible protective effects of stobadine in a canine model of global cerebral ischemia. Seven minute ischemia was induced by four vessel ligation and maintained using a controlled systemic hypotension. Stobadine pretreated animals were infused with 2 mg/kg stobadine 30 minutes prior to ischemia, while control animals received vehicle. After a 24 hour reperfusion phase, animals were perfusion-fixed and evaluated using electron microscopy. Stobadine pretreated dogs showed much less damage to both endothelial lining and pericapillary structures of the blood-brain barrier. This included preservation of cellular shape of the endothelium, patency of microvessels, lack of intraluminal blebs material, near normal cytoplasmic osmiophilia, decreased thickness of endothelial basement membrane, significantly less edema of astrocyte end-feet, and preservation of fine mitochondrial structure compared to the control group. Ischemic neuronal changes were observed less frequently in the stobadine pretreated group. In summary, we conclude that stobadine protects both cerebral microcirculation and neurons from injury induced by global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.     

Drug metabolizing enzymes in cerebrovascular endothelial cells afford a metabolic protection to the brain.

The brain is partially protected from chemical insults by a physical barrier mainly formed by the cerebral microvasculature, which prevents penetration of hydrophilic molecules in the cerebral extracellular space. This results from the presence of tight junctions joining endothelial cells, and from a low transcytotic activity in endothelial cells, inducing selective permeability properties of cerebral microvessels that characterize the blood-brain barrier. The endothelial cells provide also, as a result of their drug-metabolizing enzymes activities, a metabolic barrier against potentially penetrating lipophilic substances. It has been established that in cerebrovascular endothelial cells, several families of enzymes metabolize potentially toxic lipophilic substrates from both endogenous and exogenous origin to polar metabolites, which may not be able to penetrate further across the blood-brain barrier. Enzymes of drug metabolism present at brain interfaces devoid of blood-brain barrier, like circumventricular organs, pineal gland, and hypophysis, that are potential sites of entry for xenobiotics, display higher activities than in cerebrovascular endothelial cells, and conjugation activities are very high in the choroid plexus. Finally, xenobiotic metabolism normally results in detoxication, but also in some cases in the formation of pharmacologically active or neurotoxic products, possibly altering some blood-brain barrier properties.