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Blood-Brain Barrier: Interface Between Internal Medicine and the Brain
- WILLIAM M. PARDRIDGE, M.D.;
- WILLIAM H. OLDENDORF, M.D., D.Sc;
- PASQUALE CANCILLA, M.D.; and
- HARRISON J. L. FRANK, M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier separates brain interstitial space from blood and is formed by brain capillary endothelial cells that are fused together by epithelial-like tight junctions. Study of the blood-brain barrier traditionally has been a relatively arcane field, even for neurobiologists. However, advances over the last 10 years in understanding the transport physiology and cell biology of the brain capillary endothelial cell now provide insights into the pathogenesis of such problems as brain glucopenia, hepatic encephalopathy, therapeutic efficacy of alpha-methyldopa, brain edema in diabetic ketoacidosis, Alzheimer's disease, brain tumors, and lupus cerebritis.
Article and Author Information
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▸An edited summary of an Interdepartmental Conference arranged by the Department of Medicine of the UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California. William M. Pardridge, M.D., Professor of Medicine, is Director of Conferences.
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▸Authors who wish to cite a section of the conference and specifically indicate its author can use this example for the form of reference:
OLDENDORF WH. Overview of blood-brain barrier transport, pp 83-6. In: PARDRIDGE WM, moderator. Blood-brain barrier: interface between internal medicine and the brain. Ann Intern Med. 1986;105:82-95.
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Grant support: By grants from the National Institutes of Health (NS 19279, Dr. Cancilla), Veterans Administration, and the American Diabetes Association (#A 850531, Dr. Frank).
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to William M. Pardridge, M.D.; Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, UCLA School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90024.
- © 1986 American College of Physicians
