Evolving technologies starting with tracer studies, and more recently with genomics and proteomics, have provided novel information about the molecular properties of cerebral endothelium and astrocytes; however, further studies must be done in animal models of neurological diseases and in humans to get a clearer understanding of the pathogenesis of blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown in nervous system diseases. In The Blood-Brain and Other Neural Barriers: Reviews and Protocols, experts in the field present a series of cutting-edge protocols which can be used to study the barriers. Opening with detailed information on components of the neurovascular unit as well as the blood-cerebrospinal, blood-retinal, and blood-nerve barriers, the book continues with meticulous techniques to image the barriers in humans and experimental animals, followed by cutting-edge molecular techniques to study the BBB and novel models to study the barriers, and it concludes with techniques for the delivery of therapeutic agents across the BBB. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology¿ series format, protocol chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.
Authoritative and up-to-date, The Blood-Brain and Other Neural Barriers: Reviews and Protocols will aid the research efforts of not only graduate students but also more experienced investigators and support future studies of these vital systems.

Morphology and Properties of Brain Endothelial Cells.- Morphology and Properties of Pericytes.- Morphology and Properties of Astrocytes.- The Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier: Structure and Functional Significance.- The Blood-Retinal Barrier: Structure and Functional Significance.- The Blood-Nerve Barrier: Structure and Functional Significance.- Detection of Multiple Proteins in Intracerebral Vessels by Confocal Microscopy.- Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Repeated Measurements of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability to Contrast Agents.- Detection of Brain Pathology by Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Iron Oxide Microparticles.- Measuring the Integrity of the Human Blood-Brain Barrier Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.- Assessing Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier Permeability in the Rat Embryo.- Detection of Blood-Nerve Barrier Permeability by Magnetic Resonance Imaging.- Isolation of Human Brain Endothelial Cells and Characterization of Lipid Raft-Associated Proteins by Mass Spectroscopy.- Analysis of Mouse Brain Microvascular Endothelium Using Laser Capture Microdissection Coupled with Proteomics.- Molecular and Functional Characterization of P-Glycoprotein In vitro.- Methods to Study Glycoproteins at the Blood-Brain Barrier Using Mass Spectrometry.- Novel Models for Studying the Blood-Brain and Blood-Eye Barriers in Drosophila.- Zebrafish Model of the Blood-Brain Barrier: Morphological and Permeability Studies.- Methods to Assess Pericyte-Endothelial Cell Interactions in a Co-Culture Model.- Isolation and Properties of an In vitro Human Outer Blood-Retinal Barrier Model.- Isolation and Properties of Endothelial Cells Forming the Blood-Nerve Barrier.- Treatment of Focal Brain Ischemia with Viral Vector-Mediated Gene Transfer.- Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in the Treatment of Brain Tumors.- Integrated Platform for Brain Imaging and Drug Delivery Across the Blood-Brain Barrier.- Targeting the Choroid Plexus-CSF-Brain Nexus Using Peptides Identified by Phage Display.