Astroglial cells inhibit the increasing permeability of brain endothelial cell monolayer following hypoxia reoxygenation

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is known to be structured with astroglial cells (BECs) and brain endothelial cells (BECs), and it has been proposed that these cells play different roles in the BBB. We cultivated AGs and BECs from infant rats (2-week-old), and these cells were cultured on the opposing side of collagen membrane to produce a co-culture model of the BBB in vitro. Permeability of the cell layer was evaluated by the electrical resistance through the membrane. To clarify the role of AGs in the BBB disruption following ischemia/reperfusion, electrical resistance of the co-culture model was compared to that of BEC monolayer following hypoxia/reoxygenation. The electrical resistance through BEC monolayer showed 55.5 +/- 15.1% reduction at 4 h of hypoxia, and 93.3 +/- 5.4% reduction at 8 h of hypoxia (n = 8). However, the co-culture model showed attenuation of the reduction (24.8 +/- 14.2%) at 4 h of hypoxia (n = 8, P < 0.01), but not at 8 h of hypoxia (95.3 +/- 5.0%). These results indicate that AGs reduce the increasing permeability of the BEC monolayer following short duration of hypoxia/reoxygenation. It is suggested that AGs may have a protective effect to the BBB disruption following ischemia/reperfusion.