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Blood Brain Barrier: Unit 8 / Week 2 Prof. Lammers
Blood Brain Barrier: Unit 8 / Week 2 Prof. Lammers
The BBB is formed by the single layer of endothelial cells that line the inner surfaces of capillaries in the brain. It is a semi-permeable capillary membrane; that is, it allows some materials to cross, but prevents others from crossing. In most parts of the body the capillaries, are lined with endothelial cells. The endothelial tissue has small spaces between each individual cell so substances can move readily between the inside and the outside of the vessel. However, in the brain, the endothelial cells fit tightly together and substances cannot pass out of the bloodstream. (Some molecules, such as glucose, are transported out of the blood by special methods such as active transport.)
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Large molecules do not pass through the BBB easily. Low lipid (fat) soluble molecules do not penetrate into the brain. However, lipid soluble molecules rapidly cross the BBB into the brain. Molecules that have a high electrical charge to them are slowed.
The BBB is selectively permeable to :Oxygen, Carbon dioxide and glucose The BBB is not permeable to hydrogen ions
Therefore:
There are five basic mechanisms by which solute molecules move across membranes:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
simple diffusion facilitated diffusion simple diffusion through an aqueous channel active transport through a protein carrier Endocytosis
Transport mechanisms at the BBB. 1 = paracellular diffusion , 2 = transcellular diffusion , 3 = ion channel 4 = ion-symport channel 5 = ion-antiport channel 6 = facilitated diffusion , 7 = active efflux pump 8 = active-antiport transport , 9 = receptor mediated endocytosis