title: Blood-brain barrier breakdown in reduced uterine perfusion pressure: a possible model of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical entity characterized by headaches, altered mental status, seizures, and visual disturbances and is associated with white matter vasogenic edema. There are no experimental models to study PRES brain changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 7: (1) pregnant-control; (2) reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP); (3) invasive blood pressure (IBP); and (4) reduced uterine perfusion pressure plus invasive blood pressure (RUPP-IBP). The RUPP and RUPP-IBP groups were submitted to a reduction of uterine perfusion pressure at pregnancy days 13 to 15. The invasive mean arterial pressure of the IBP and RUPP-IBP groups was measured on day 20. The blood-brain barriers (BBBs) of all groups were analyzed using 2% Evans Blue dye on day 21.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RUPP rats had higher blood pressures and increased BBB permeability to Evans Blue dye compared with the control animals. Brain staining occurred in 11 of 14 RUPP rats and in none of the control groups (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physiopathology of PRES remains unclear. Here, we described the use of RUPP rats as a potential model to better comprehend this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Hospital São Lucas and Instituto do Cérebro do Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Electronic address: lcpmarrone@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Porcello Marrone
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Service, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).
authors.forename: Giovani
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gadonski
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Hospital São Lucas and Instituto do Cérebro do Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Laguna
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Service, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Poli-de-Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Service, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).
authors.forename: Bartira Ercilia
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Pinheiro da Costa
authors.affiliation: Pathology Service (Anatpat), Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Francisca Torres
authors.initials: MFT
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Hospital São Lucas and Instituto do Cérebro do Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).
authors.forename: João Pedro Farina
authors.initials: JPF
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Hospital São Lucas and Instituto do Cérebro do Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).
authors.forename: Luciano Passamani
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Diogo
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Hospital São Lucas and Instituto do Cérebro do Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).
authors.forename: Antônio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Huf Marrone
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Hospital São Lucas and Instituto do Cérebro do Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).
authors.forename: Jaderson Costa
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Da Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D010477:Perfusion; D010539:Permeability; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054038:Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*
keywords: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome; blood–brain barrier; experimental model; hypertension; reduction of uterine blood pressure