Attempted induction of blood brain barrier in vitro by co-culture of gerbil brain microvessel endothelial cells and glial cells.

The characteristics of isolated and subcultured Mongolian gerbil brain microvessel endothelial cells (BECs) were investigated, especially the disappearance of blood brain barrier (BBB) functions, and subcultured BECs were co-cultured with gerbil glial cells to assess a mass-producible BBB filter model. The subcultured cells lost specific characteristics observed in freshly isolated BECs, such as limited permeability to albumin and inulin, high gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, and strong connections between individual cells. The subcultured BECs did not regain BBB functions during co-culture with glial cells, even derived from the same species. Only freshly isolated endothelial cells can be used for the BBB filter model, and a mass-producible BBB filter model may be impossible to make.