Fig. 5.

Nano-alumina reduces expression of tight junction proteins. a Confluent cultures were treated with indicated concentrations of nano-alumina or alumina for 24 h. In addition, selected cultures were co-treated with 1 mM glutathione. Expression of tight junction protein was analyzed by Western blotting. All experiments were repeated four times, the intensity of the blots were measured by densitometry and plotted.

* Statistically different as compared to non-treated controls. † Values in the nano-alumina plus glutathione group are statistically different as compared to the nano-alumina group. b Rats were intravenously administered with nano-alumina (8–12 nm; 29 mg/kg as ∼0.6% dispersion in water) and 20 h later the brains were sampled and stained for the presence of claudin-5 and occludin. Treatment with nano-alumina induced loss and fragmentation of claudin-5 and occludin immunoreactivity in cerebral vessels as compared to the sham-treated animals