Figure 2. LPS-induced changes in BBB permeability.

BBB permeability was measured in terms of Naf accumulation in cOFM samples. Control animals (n = 6) received normal sterile saline (0.5 ml) after the collection of the baseline cOFM sample whereas the LPS-treated group (n = 6) were injected (i.p.) with LPS (5 mg/kg dissolved in 0.5 ml normal sterile saline) after baseline cOFM sample collection. In both groups, a bolus injection of Naf (11 mg/kg dissolved in normal sterile saline) was injected through the femoral vein followed by a continuous infusion of Naf (11 mg/kg/h). Proteins were removed from the cOFM samples by precipitation. Part of the cOFM sample (25 µl) was then mixed with the same volume of acetonitrile at room temperature and Naf concentration was measured. Results are given as mean ± SEM (* p<0.05).