ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of diabetes on the expression of the glucose transporter (GLUT-1) in blood brain barrier (BBB) endothelial cell at different time points. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control and diabetic group. Diabetic model of SD rats was established by intravenous streptozotocin(50 mg/kg) injection. Ten rats in each group were sacrificed on the 2nd month and 10th month respectively. The rat' s prefrontal cortex was removed to observe the expression of GLUT-1 in BBB EC with immunohistochemical(IHC) staining. Results By IHC method, the number of GLUT-1 positive microvessels was significantly decreased in diabetic group in the 2nd month (4. 3 ± 0. 9) compared with that of control group (6.4 ± 1.7, t = 7. 586, P < 0. 01 ) ; the number of GLUT-1 positive microvessels was significantly increased in the diabetic group in the 10th month (8.4 ± 1.4) compared with that of control group (5. 8 ± 1.7, t = 15.922,P < 0. 01 ). Conclusions Short-term diabetes GLUT-1 expression in BBB EC is downregulated in early stage, while it is upregulated in advanced stage.