Quantitative method for detection of blood-nerve barrier alterations in experimental animal models of neuropathy

Takekazu Ohi, Joseph F. Poduslo, Geoffry L. Curran, Peter J. Dyck

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

A solid phase radioimmunoassay was developed for measuring albumin concentrations in both endoneurium and serum, which were normalized to total endoneurium and serum protein to obtain a blood-nerve barrier index (BNB-index). The BNB-index in experimental lead neuropathy demonstrated barrier dysfunction beginning at 6 weeks of 4% lead carbonate ingestion and at 14 weeks was 5.2 times that of pair-fed controls. These data, therefore, confirmed investigations that indicated a gradual alteration of the BNB beginning at 6 weeks and were based on (i) direct measurement of endoneurial albumin concentration by densitometry after sodium dodecyl sulfate-pore gradient electrophoresis and (ii) intravenous injection of 125I-albumin (J. F. Poduslo, P. A. Low, A. J. Windebank, P. J. Dyck, C. T. Berg, and J. D. Schmeltzer, 1982.J. Neurosci.2: 1507-1514). The BNB-index after crush injury was 2.2 times that of control nerves at 24 h and gradually decreased toward normal values but was still 1.6 times that of controls at 70 days, a value consistent with the prolonged time course for complete repair. The BNB-index, therefore, can be used to evaluate BNB alterations quantitatively in animal models of neuropathy. Furthermore, we suggest that the BNB-index can also be used on biopsied, neuropathic, human sural nerve for evaluation of blood-nerve barrier abnormality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)365-372
Number of pages8
JournalExperimental Neurology
Volume90
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1985

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Developmental Neuroscience

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