A primary function of epithelial and endothelial monolayers is the formation of barriers that separate tissues into functional compartments. Tight junctions (TJs) seal the intercellular space between the single cells of a monolayer. TJs thus contribute importantly to the homeostasis of the cerebrospinal fluid as they help in maintaining the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal ...

High fructose intake is associated with increased plasma triglyceride concentration, hepatic steatosis, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure. In addition, increased fructose intake has recently been supposed to be a risk factor for dementia. However, direct effects of fructose on the brain function remain to be clarified. The localization of glucose transporte...

www.cmj.hr Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has attracted interest as an active signaling milieu that regulates brain development, homeostasis, and course disease. CSF is a nutrient-rich fluid, which also contains growth factors and signaling molecules that regulate multiple cell functions in the central nervous system (CNS). CSF constitution is controlled tightly and constituent concentrations are ma...

The cerebrospinal fluid-to-blood efflux transport of estrone-3-sulfate (E(1)S) via the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) may play an important role in regulating E(1)S levels in the brain. Here, we investigated the efflux transport of E(1)S at the BCSFB using conditionally immortalized rat choroid plexus epithelial cells (TR-CSFB) and identified the responsible transporter. The [(3)H]E(...

The causes of brachial plexus palsy in neonates should be classified according to their most salient associated feature. The causes of brachial plexus palsy are obstetrical brachial plexus palsy, familial congenital brachial plexus palsy, maternal uterine malformation, congenital varicella syndrome, osteomyelitis involving the proximal head of the humerus or cervical vertebral bodies, exostosis...

PURPOSE β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) regulate angiogenesis in proliferative retinopathies. We studied the effects of β1/2-AR deletion in a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) to confirm the role of β1- and/or β2-ARs in regulating angiogenesis and to get insights into the role of β3-ARs. METHODS Mice with β1/2-AR deletion (KO) were used. Levels of norepinephrine (NE), β3-ARs, transcrip...

Zinc (Zn) is an essential element for normal brain function; an abnormal Zn homeostasis in brain and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been implied in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanisms that regulate Zn transport in the blood– brain interface remain unknown. This study was designed to investigate Zn transport by the blood–CSF barrier (BCB) in the choroid plexus, w...

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has attracted interest as an active signaling milieu that regulates brain development, homeostasis, and course disease. CSF is a nutrient-rich fluid, which also contains growth factors and signaling molecules that regulate multiple cell functions in the central nervous system (CNS). CSF constitution is controlled tightly and constituent concentrations are maintained na...

Hemorrhagic meningitis is considered a complication of anthrax and was reported in about 50% of deadly cases in humans and non-human primates (NHP). Recently we demonstrated in Guinea pigs and rabbits that 100% of the B. anthracis-infected animals presented histopathology of meningitis at the time of death, some without any sign of hemorrhage. A similar pathology was observed in animals that su...

The strategic localization of peptide transporter 2 (PEPT2), a proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter, to the apical membrane of epithelial cells in the kidney and choroid plexus suggests that it plays an important role in the disposition of peptides/mimetics in the body. Therefore, the in vivo significance of PEPT2 was investigated in wild-type and PEPT2 null mice following an i.v. bolus dose...