Figure 5
Exposure to hydrogen peroxide affects BBB viability and integrity. (Panel A) Under the exposure to pulsatile flow in presence of abluminal astrocytes the vascular endothelium formed a stable highly impermeable barrier (TEER ≈ 1200 Ohm/cm2) (Panel A left side). Exposure to H2O2 equivalent to that contained in 10 and 20 cigarettes determined a loss of BBB integrity (Panel A right side). Loss of BBB integrity and viability at the highest H2O2 level of exposure was partially prevented to a different extent by pre-treatment with antioxidant vitamins (C, E, and combined treatment, Panel B). The described experiments were performed in quadruplicates (n = 4). The asterisk "*" indicates a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) versus control. Multiple asterisks indicate a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) versus other treatments.