Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is the most complicated organ in regard to its structure and function. The CNS interfaces with the blood at several sites, such as the blood–brain barrier (BBB), the blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier, and the blood–spinal cord barrier. These barriers protect the brain and spinal cord from both toxic and pathogenic agents in the blood. The BBB is formed by extensive tight junctions between vascular epithelial cells, which are polarized into luminal (blood-facing) and abluminal (brain-facing) plasma membrane domains. Under physiological conditions, the BBB protects the brain from pathogens, xenobiotics, various cells and proteins, and neurotransmitters present in the blood, but its permeability can be changed under various conditions, such as stress, hypoxia, hypertension, high osmotic concentrations, high PCO2, hypoglycemia, chemical toxicity, and traumatic brain injury. The BBB also presents a major obstacle for potential CNS preventative and therapeutic agents that target the CNS. Many drugs and toxicants, associated with neurotoxicity, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation, have been studied for their effects on and their transport through the BBB. This chapter describes in brief the structure, function, physiology, pharmacology, and toxicology of the BBB in relation to neurological and nonneurological diseases and chemical toxicity.
Published Version
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