Comparison of blood brain barrier permeability in normal and ovariectomized female rats that demonstrate right or left paw preference.

We explored the relations among paw preference, cerebral asymmetry and asymmetrical disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in normal and ovariectomized female rats with known paw preference. A high dose of pentylenetetrazol was used to disrupt the BBB and induce acute hypertension. To determine the areas of macroscopic infarct, samples were stained with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Histological staining techniques were used to show the areas of infarct microscopically on paraffin sections. Sixty-two percent of the rats demonstrated right paw preference, 24% demonstrated left paw preference and 14% were ambidextrous. Areas of infarct, which indicated destruction of the BBB, were determined microscopically and macroscopically in rats that demonstrated right and left paw preference. We found a relation between permeability of the BBB and paw preference. There may be a relation between paw preference, cerebral asymmetry and asymmetrical destruction of the BBB in rats. Asymmetrical destruction of the BBB in experimental rats was similar to the control group, which had asymmetrically disrupted BBB with respect to paw preference. Like the control rats, asymmetrical areas of infarct consistent with cerebral asymmetry were observed in ovariectomized rats.