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Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology2008; 67(12); 1187-1193; doi: 10.1097/NEN.0b013e31818f8f51

The role of dietary antioxidant insufficiency on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier.

Abstract: Our previous studies implicated vitamin E deficiency as a risk factor for equine motor neuron disease, a possible model of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and showed direct effects of this deficiency on brain vascular endothelium. To gain better understanding of the pathogenesis of equine motor neuron disease, we determined the effects of dietary antioxidant insufficiency and the resultant brain tissue oxidative stress on blood-brain barrier permeability. Rats (n = 40) were maintained on a diet deficient of vitamin E for 36 to 43 weeks; 40 controls were fed a normal diet. Permeability of the blood-brain barrier in the cerebral cortex was investigated using rhodamine B, and lipid peroxidation was measured as a marker for oxidative stress. Animals on the vitamin E-deficient diet showed less weight gain and had higher brain lipid peroxidation compared with the controls. Fluorometric studies demonstrated greater rhodamine B in the perivascular compartment and central nervous system parenchyma in rats on the deficient diet compared with controls. These results suggest that a deficiency in vitamin E increases brain tissue oxidative stress and impairs the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. These observations may have relevance to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurologic diseases.
Publication Date: 2008-11-20 PubMed ID: 19018244PubMed Central: PMC4865883DOI: 10.1097/NEN.0b013e31818f8f51Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research investigated the effects of Vitamin E deficiency on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, revealing that insufficient dietary antioxidants can impair the barrier’s integrity and increase oxidative stress in the brain. This finding can have implications for the development of neurologic diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background

  • This research was conducted based on prior studies that suggested a link between vitamin E deficiency and equine motor neuron disease. Equine motor neuron disease could potentially serve as a model for studying human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a devastating neurodegenerative disease.

Methodology

  • The study used rats, with 40 on a diet deficient in Vitamin E for 36 to 43 weeks and another group of 40 rats on a normal diet serving as controls.
  • The permeability of the blood-brain barrier in the cerebral cortex of these rats was examined using Rhodamine B, a compound often used in biological staining.
  • The study also measured lipid peroxidation – a process leading to cell damage – as a biomarker for oxidative stress in the brain.

Findings

  • The rats on the vitamin E-deficient diet showed less weight gain and exhibited higher brain lipid peroxidation compared to the control group, indicating increased oxidative stress.
  • The fluorometric studies showed higher concentrations of Rhodamine B in the perivascular compartment and central nervous system parenchyma (functional tissue in the brain) in rats on the deficient diet. This suggests that there is increased permeability or “leakiness” of the blood-brain barrier due to Vitamin E deficiency.

Implications

  • The researchers concluded that vitamin E deficiency leads to increased oxidative stress in brain tissue and impairs the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.
  • This could have strong implications for understanding the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurological diseases, potentially informing treatment and preventative strategies in the future.

Cite This Article

APA
Mohammed HO, Starkey SR, Stipetic K, Divers TJ, Summers BA, de Lahunta A. (2008). The role of dietary antioxidant insufficiency on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol, 67(12), 1187-1193. https://doi.org/10.1097/NEN.0b013e31818f8f51

Publication

ISSN: 0022-3069
NlmUniqueID: 2985192R
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 67
Issue: 12
Pages: 1187-1193

Researcher Affiliations

Mohammed, Hussni O
  • Department of Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA. hom1@cornell.edu
Starkey, Simon R
    Stipetic, Korona
      Divers, Thomas J
        Summers, Brian A
          de Lahunta, Alexander

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Antioxidants / metabolism
            • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
            • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiopathology
            • Body Weight / physiology
            • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
            • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
            • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
            • Disease Models, Animal
            • Food, Formulated
            • Lipid Peroxidation / physiology
            • Male
            • Motor Neuron Disease / metabolism
            • Motor Neuron Disease / pathology
            • Motor Neuron Disease / physiopathology
            • Nutritional Requirements
            • Oxidative Stress / physiology
            • Rats
            • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
            • Rhodamines
            • Vitamin E / metabolism
            • Vitamin E Deficiency / complications
            • Vitamin E Deficiency / metabolism
            • Vitamin E Deficiency / physiopathology

            Grant Funding

            • R21 NS041968 / NINDS NIH HHS
            • R21 NS041968-01A2 / NINDS NIH HHS
            • R21 NS041968-02 / NINDS NIH HHS

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            Citations

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