Lecture 18 - Neurotoxicology 1

Question 1

Describe the passive and active protective mechanisms of the BBB.

Answer 1

Passive (structural): tight junctions between endothelial cells
Active: transporters move chemicals from blood into endothelial cell, however P-glycoproteins can actively transport chemicals back into endothelial cell, however if chemical is not target of P-glycoprotein it can travel into brain