Figure 4.

The effect of brain maturation on the expression of BBB proteins. A, Representative Western blots showing the expression of basal lamina proteins (Col-IV and laminin), TJ proteins (occludin and claudin-5), and the pericyte marker PDGFRβ in naive developing (P7–P17) and adult rats. B–F, Densitometric analysis of Western blots showing reduced expression of the basal lamina proteins laminin (B) and Col-IV (C) and the TJ proteins occludin (D) and claudin-5 (E) and increased expression of PDGFRβ (F) in the adult brain compared to the developing postnatal brain. Data are normalized for β-actin expression and expressed as fold-increase versus P7 brains.