title: Anatomy and physiology of the blood-brain barrier.
abstract: Essential requisite for the preservation of normal brain activity is to maintain a narrow and stable homeostatic control in the neuronal environment of the CNS. Blood flow alterations and altered vessel permeability are considered key determinants in the pathophysiology of brain injuries. We will review the present-day literature on the anatomy, development and physiological mechanisms of the blood-brain barrier, a distinctive and tightly regulated interface between the CNS and the peripheral circulation, playing a crucial role in the maintenance of the strict environment required for normal brain function.
authors: Departments of Physiology, Cell Biology and Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors: Yonatan
authors: Y
authors: Serlin
authors: Department of Radiology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 84101 Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors: Ilan
authors: I
authors: Shelef
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors: Boris
authors: B
authors: Knyazer
authors: Departments of Physiology, Cell Biology and Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Medical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, 5850 College Street, Halifax Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada. Electronic address: alon.friedman@dal.ca.
authors: Alon
authors: A
authors: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Blood–brain barrier; Neuroglia; Neurovascular unit; Vessel permeability