ABSTRACT
Objective To study the dynamic changes of transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) on our in vitro model of brain blood barrier (BBB) made from primary culture of BALB/c mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC), and to explore the relation between TEER and BBB permeability, and search for the best culture condition. Methods BMVEC were isolated from BALB/c mouse and cultured on a transwell insert with special micro-pore. The cells were identified with immunohistochemical methods and electron microscope. TEER over BMVEC was measured after BBB model establishment for determining the 3H-Glucose permeability of BBB in vitro. Results BMVEC cultured in the transwell insert exhibited typical "flagstone" appearance and in a tight monolayer structure under electron microscope. Immunohistochemical detection of ZO-1 protein, a marker antigen of tight junction, showed smooth, continuous and tight junctions between confluent BMVEC. TEER over BMVEC monolayer increased to (346?10) ?/cm2 when the permeability for 3H-Glucose was decreased to the minimum. Conclusion BBB model in vitro made from primary culture of BMVEC in transwell has the basic characteristics of BBB in morphology, electrical resistance and permeability.