Astrocytes are necessary for blood-brain barrier maintenance in the adult mouse brain.

ABSTRACT: In the adult brain, multiple cell types are known to produce factors that regulate blood-brain barrier (BBB) properties, including astrocytes. Yet several recent studies disputed a role for mature astrocytes at the BBB. To determine if astrocytes contribute a nonredundant and necessary function in maintaining the adult BBB, we used a mouse model of tamoxifen-inducible astrocyte ablation. In adult mice, tamoxifen induction caused sparse apoptotic astrocyte cell death within 2 hr. Indicative of BBB damage, leakage of the small molecule Cadaverine, and the large plasma protein fibrinogen into the brain parenchyma indicative of BBB damage was detected as early as astrocyte ablation was present. Vessels within and close to regions of astrocyte loss had lower expression of the tight junction pro

SUBMITTER: Heithoff BP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7736206 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature