BBB modulation to Gd-DTPA was observed throughout the brain and in the region of the hippocampus, extravasation of Gd-DTPA was manifested by dark contrasting in inverted LUT MR images following systemic injection of AAV.
Western blot analysis in a capillary isolated fraction of brain tissue showed suppression of claudin-5 in CLDN5 AAV-2/9-injected mice compared to NT AAV-2/9-injected mice.
An eGFP expressing AAV-2/9 was also injected to identify the transduced region and showed efficient transduction of cells within the hippocampus (green), with retrograde transport observed in neuronal cells.
High-resolution T-2-weighted MRI showed no signs of neuronal oedema at the site of injection.
Post-Gd-DTPA injection, enhanced contrasting was observed within the hippocampus specifically at the site of injection.
Extravasation of Gd-DTPA at the side of injection was highlighted in the pseudo-coloured image (arrows).
Quantitative analysis of regions of interest in the right hippocampus of individual mice were assessed and compared to the contra-lateral hippocampus. In each mouse analysed, there was a significant enhancement of Gd-DTPA in the region of the hippocampus injected with CLDN5 AAV-2/9.