Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 16 June 1972:
Vol. 176. no. 4040, pp. 1243 - 1244
DOI: 10.1126/science.176.4040.1243
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Chronic Effects of Osmotic Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier in the Monkey

Stanley I. Rapoport 1, David S. Bachman 2, and Harry K. Thompson 3

1 Laboratory of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014
2 Laboratory of Brain Evolution and Behavior, National Institute of Mental Health
3 Laboratory of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health

In the monkey, the blood-brain barrier and the blood-aqueous and blood-vitreous barriers of the eye can be opened by internal carotid perfusion of solutions of 2 molar urea in a way compatible with survival and, in some few cases, without detectable neurological deficits. Urea presumably acts by osmotically shrinking the endothelial cells of the cerebrovascular vessels and opening their tight junctions. The high incidence of brain necrosis with neurological sequelae after perfusion of urea by the present technique precludes the use of osmotic opening of the blood-brain barrier for pharmacotherapy at this time.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Effects of acute hyperosmolality on blood-brain barrier function in ovine fetuses and lambs.
B. S. Stonestreet, G. B. Sadowska, J. Leeman, R. C. Hanumara, K. H. Petersson, and C. S. Patlak (2006)
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 291, R1031-R1039
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Blood-Ocular Barriers Under Osmotic Stress: Studies on the Freeze-Dried Eye.
A. M. Laties and S. Rapoport (1976)
Arch Ophthalmol 94, 1086-1091
   Abstract »    PDF »
Osmotic Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier in the Monkey without Associated Neurological Deficits.
S. I. Rapoport and H. K. Thompson (1973)
Science 180, 971
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)