Reconstitution of the blood-brain barrier in cell culture for studies of drug transport and metabolism

In this paper the anatomy of the blood-brain barrier and the properties of peripheral versus brain-microvessel-endothelial cells (BMEC) are outlined and the isolation and application of microvessels are discussed. In addition, the isolation and culture of BMEC are described and discussed and the application of this system in drug transport- and metabolism-studies, visualization of drug transport routes, and in the study of changes in BBB functionality during inflammation, is illustrated.