Effects of 6-aminonicotinamide gliotoxin on blood-brain barrier differentiation in the chick embryo cerebellum

Anat Embryol (Berl). 2003 Oct;207(3):209-19. doi: 10.1007/s00429-003-0335-4. Epub 2003 Sep 12.

Abstract

The hypothesis of astroglial cell involvement in prenatal setting up of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been examined by producing glial degeneration in cerebellum of chicken embryos submitted to the action of gliotoxin 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN), which was applied onto the embryo chorioallantoic membrane during both early and late embryonic development. The effects of 6-AN on the cerebellum astroglial cells and microvessels were analysed under the light microscope by immunostaining for 3CB2 (chick-specific glial marker) and HT7 (chick-specific marker of BBB-provided brain endothelia), under the electron microscope, as well as by the vascular permeability tracer horseradish peroxidase. The results, showing good suitability of the 6-AN model also when applied in early embryonic development, demonstrated a correlation between perivascular glia depletion and endothelial barrier impairment and suggested that astroglia play a role in the BBB prenatal differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 6-Aminonicotinamide / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm*
  • Antigens, Surface*
  • Astrocytes / drug effects
  • Astrocytes / physiology*
  • Avian Proteins*
  • Basigin
  • Blood Proteins*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / cytology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / embryology*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiology
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cerebellum / blood supply
  • Cerebellum / drug effects
  • Cerebellum / embryology*
  • Chick Embryo
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / embryology
  • Horseradish Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / analysis
  • Microcirculation / embryology*
  • Microcirculation / ultrastructure
  • Neuroglia / chemistry
  • Neuroglia / cytology
  • Neuroglia / drug effects

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Avian Proteins
  • Blood Proteins
  • Bsg protein, Gallus gallus
  • Bsg protein, rat
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Basigin
  • 6-Aminonicotinamide
  • Horseradish Peroxidase