title: The brain interstitial system: Anatomy, modeling, in vivo measurement, and applications.
abstract: Although neurons attract the most attention in neurobiology, our current knowledge of neural circuit can only partially explain the neurological and psychiatric conditions of the brain. Thus, it is also important to consider the influence of brain interstitial system (ISS), which refers to the space among neural cells and capillaries. The ISS is the major compartment of the brain microenvironment that provides the immediate accommodation space for neural cells, and it occupies 15% to 20% of the total brain volume. The brain ISS is a dynamic and complex space connecting the vascular system and neural networks and it plays crucial roles in substance transport and signal transmission among neurons. Investigation of the brain ISS can provide new perspectives for understanding brain architecture and function and for exploring new strategies to treat brain disorders. This review discussed the anatomy of the brain ISS under both physiological and pathological conditions, biophysical modeling of the brain ISS and in vivo measurement and imaging techniques, including recent findings on brain ISS divisions. Moreover, the implications of ISS knowledge for basic neuroscience and clinical applications are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Devices and Technology, Beijing, China; School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Devices and Technology, Beijing, China. Electronic address: hanhongbin@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, United States.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan; State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, China.
authors.forename: Aqeel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javeed
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Biophysical modeling; Brain interstitial division; Brain interstitial system; Extracellular space; In vivo measurement