Blood-Brain Barrier Restoration Following Cold Injury

Abstract

Cerebral blood flow (CBF), 113mIndium-DPTA, and 14C-glucose extraction were measured simultaneously in rat brain from 2 to 58 days following a thermal insult. In the early stage of a cold induced lesion (2 days), the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was disrupted with resulting leakage and diffusionary loss of both glucose and indium-DPTA. The adjacent, nonnecrotic brain showed similar but more subtle changes. In both areas, CBF was markedly reduced. CBF and augmented loss of glucose and Indium-DPTA continued in the epicenter of the lesion for up to 58 days postinjury while the BBB function in the brain areas surrounding the lesion returned toward normal. These findings were consistent with observation of disruption of BBB activity and of immature brain capillaries during the reparative period.