title: Specialized localization of P-glycoprotein recognized by MRK 16 monoclonal antibody in endothelial cells of the brain and the spinal cord.
abstract: This communication describes the cellular and ultrastructural localization in the central nervous system of P-glycoprotein (P-GP) recognized by a murine monoclonal antibody, MRK 16. At the ultrastructural level P-GP was strictly confined to the luminal surface of the endothelial cells which comprise the capillary vessels of the brain and the spinal cord. No P-GP was found in the endothelial cells of other organs. Our findings may be useful as a means to define the blood-brain barrier, and they imply that the blood-brain barrier is anatomically characterized by the presence of intercellular tight junctions between continuous nonfenestrated endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Tokyo.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuruo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004727:Endothelium / Q000032:analysis; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins