Figure 9. Oxidative/nitrosative damage of capillaries impaired BBB integrity by disrupting the tight junction proteins.

(a) A representative of immunofluorescent staining of TJ protein Claudin-5 (a), Occludin (b), and zonula occluden 1 (ZO-1, c) in capillaries of whole brain cross-sections in control and blast exposed animals. (b) Corresponding Western blot and bar graphs showing the quantification of respective immunoreactive fluorescence intensity of Claudin-5 (d,e), Occludin (f,g), and zonula occluden 1 (h,i). Values are mean ± SEM, (n = 4), and asterisk indicates each blast intensity compared with control where level of statistical significance was achieved (p < 0.05).