• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1993

The endothelial cell of brain capillary called the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has carrier-mediated transport systems for nutrients and drugs. The mechanism of the BBB transport of basic and acidic drugs has been reviewed and examined for endogenous transport systems in BBB in WKY and SHRSP. Acidic drugs such as salicylic acid and basic drugs such as eperisone are taken up in a carrier mediated manner through the BBB via the monocarboxylic acid and amine transport systems. The specific dysfunction for the choline transport at the BBB in SHRSP would affect the function of the brain endothelial cell and brain parenchymal cell. The utilization of the endogenous transport systems of monocarboxylic acid and amine could be promising strategy for the effective drug delivery to the brain.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.199.2-200
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• 2003

Choline is an important membrane phospholipid constituent and a neurotransmitter precursor that is minimally synthesized in brain. The long-term maintenance of brain choline concentration is dependent on choline transport from plasma, which occurs via saturable transport system at the blood-brain barrier. In the present study, we examined to elucidate the characteristics of transport of cationic amines, especially choline which is one of cationic amines, to BBS using conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB) in vitro. (omitted)

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.279-287
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• 2007

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element indispensable for brain development and function; either excess or deficiency in Cu can cause brain malfunction. While it is known that Cu and Fe homeostasis are strictly regulated in the brain, the question as to how systemic Fe status may influence brain Cu distribution was poorly understood. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that dietary Fe condition affects Cu transport into the brain, leading to an altered brain distribution of Cu. Rats were divided into 3 groups; an Fe-deficient (Fe-D) group which received an Fe-D diet ($3{\sim}5 mg$ Fe/kg), a control group that was fed with normal diet (35mg Fe/kg), and an Fe-overload group whose diet contained an Fe-O diet (20g carbonyl Fe/kg). Following a 4-week treatment, the concentration of Cu/Fe in serum, CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) and brain were determined by AAS, and the uptake rates of Cu into choroids plexus (CP), CSF, brain capillary and parenchyma were determined by an in situ brain perfusion, followed by capillary depletion. In Fe-D and Fe-O, serum Fe level decreased by 91% (p<0.01) and increased by 131% (p<0.01), respectively, in comparison to controls. Fe concentrations in all brain regions tested (frontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, mid brain, and cerebellum) were lower than those of controls in Fe-D rats (p<0.05), but not changed in Fe-O rats. In Fe-D animals, serum and CSF Cu were not affected, while brain Cu levels in all tested regions (frontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, mid brain, and cerebellum) were significantly increased (p<0.05). Likewise, the unidirectional transport rate constants $(K_{in})$ of Cu in CP, CSF, brain capillary and parenchyma were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the Fe-D rats. In contrast, with Fe-O, serum, CSF and brain Cu concentrations were significantly decreased as compared to controls (p<0.05). Cu transport was no significant change of Cu transport of serum in Fe-O rats. The mRNA levels of five Cu-related transporters were not affected by Fe status except DMT1 in the CP, which was increased in Fe-D and decreased in Fe-O. Our data suggest that Cu transport into brain and ensuing brain Cu levels are regulated by systemic Fe status. Fe deficiency appears to augment Cu transport by brain barriers, leading to an accumulation of Cu in brain parenchyma.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.224-229
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• 2003

We have investigated the transport characteristics of synthetic antioxidant and free radical scavenger, $\alpha$-phenyl-n-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by in vitro uptake study in conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB). Also, the efflux of PBN from brain to blood is estimated using the brain efflux index (BEI) method. Choline is a charged organic cation, including nitrogen-methyl group and shows the carrier-mediated distribution to the brain. [$^3$H]Choline uptake by TR-BBB cells was significantly inhibited by PBN with $IC_{50}$/ of 1.2 mM, which appears to be due to similar structures between choline and PBN. And, PBN was microinjected into Par2 of the rat brain by BEI method, and was eliminated from the brain with an apparent elimination half-life of about 2 min. Also, [$^3$H]choline efflux was significantly inhibited by PBN using BEI method. In conclusion, the efflux transport of PBN takes place across the BBB and PBN may be transported into the brain and eliminated from the brain by BBB choline transporter.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to clarify the efflux transport system of choline from brain to blood across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in rats using the brain efflux index (BEI) method. $[^3H]$Choline was micro-injected into parietal cortex area 2 (Par2) of the rat brain, and was eliminated from the brain with elimination halflife of 45 min. The BBB efflux clearance of $[^3H]$choline was about 124 mL/min/g brain, which was determined from combination of an elimination rate constant $(1.54X10^{-2}min^{-1})$ and the distribution volume in the brain (8.05 mL/g brain). The efflux of $[^3H]$choline was inhibited by unlabeled choline in a dose-dependent manner and was significantly inhibited by cationic substrates, such as hemicholinium-3 and tetraethylammonium (TEA). These results suggest that the BBB may act as an efflux pump for choline to reduce the excessive choline concentration in the brain interstitial fluid.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.69.2-69.2
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to examine whether the efflux system for taurine from brain to blood is present on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using the brain efflux index (BEl) method and taurine transport system is regulated by CNS cell damage with oxidative stress agent such as diethyl maleate (DEM) or tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) in vivo. ［$^3$H]Taurine was microinjected into parietal cortex area 2 (Par2) of the rat brain, and was eliminated from the brain with efflux transport rate of 1.22 10$\^$-2//min, and the process is saturable with a $K_{m}$ of 43.5 ${\mu}$M. (omitted)

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.441-451
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• 2017

Imperatorin, a major bioactive furanocoumarin with multifunctions, can be used for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of imperatorin transport in the brain. Experiments of the present study were designed to study imperatorin transport across the blood-brain barrier both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo study was performed in rats using single intravenous injection and in situ carotid artery perfusion technique. Conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cells were as an in vitro model of blood-brain barrier to examine the transport mechanism of imperatorin. Brain distribution volume of imperatorin was about 6 fold greater than that of sucrose, suggesting that the transport of imperatorin was through the blood-brain barrier in physiological state. Both in vivo and in vitro imperatorin transport studies demonstrated that imperatorin could be transported in a concentration-dependent manner with high affinity. Imperatorin uptake was dependent on proton gradient in an opposite direction. It was significantly reduced by pretreatment with sodium azide. However, its uptake was not inhibited by replacing extracellular sodium with potassium or N-methylglucamine. The uptake of imperatorin was inhibited by various cationic compounds, but not inhibited by TEA, choline and organic anion substances. Transfection of plasma membrane monoamine transporter, organic cation transporter 2 and organic cation/carnitine transporter 2/1 siRNA failed to alter imperatorin transport in brain capillary endothelial cells. Especially, tramadol, clonidine and pyrilamine inhibited the uptake of [$^3H$]imperatorin competitively. Therefore, imperatorin is actively transported from blood to brain across the blood-brain barrier by passive and carrier-mediated transporter.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.290-301
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• 2019

Paeonol has neuroprotective function, which could be useful for improving central nervous system disorder. The purpose of this study was to characterize the functional mechanism involved in brain transport of paeonol through blood-brain barrier (BBB). Brain transport of paeonol was characterized by internal carotid artery perfusion (ICAP), carotid artery single injection technique (brain uptake index, BUI) and intravenous (IV) injection technique in vivo. The transport mechanism of paeonol was examined using conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB) as an in vitro model of BBB. Brain volume of distribution (VD) of [$^3H$]paeonol in rat brain was about 6-fold higher than that of [$^{14}C$]sucrose, the vascular space marker of BBB. The uptake of [$^3H$]paeonol was concentration-dependent. Brain volume of distribution of paeonol and BUI as in vivo and inhibition of analog as in vitro studies presented significant reduction effect in the presence of unlabeled lipophilic compounds such as paeonol, imperatorin, diphenhydramine, pyrilamine, tramadol and ALC during the uptake of [$^3H$]paeonol. In addition, the uptake significantly decreased and increased at the acidic and alkaline pH in both extracellular and intracellular study, respectively. In the presence of metabolic inhibitor, the uptake reduced significantly but not affected by sodium free or membrane potential disruption. Similarly, paeonol uptake was not affected on OCTN2 or rPMAT siRNA transfection BBB cells. Interestingly. Paeonol is actively transported from the blood to brain across the BBB by a carrier mediated transporter system.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.94-95
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• 2002

Drug targeting to the central nervous system (CNS) is the limiting factor in CNS drug development because most of drug do not cross the brain capillary endothelial wall, which forms the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vivo. One strategy for drug targeting to the brain is to use endogenous BBB transport systems. (omitted)

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.179-183
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• 2008

In the present study, we examined the effects of several therapeutics of Alzheimer's disease, such as donepezil hydrochloride, tacrine and $\alpha$-phenyl-n-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) on choline efflux from brain to circulating blood. The brain-to-blood efflux of [$^3H$]choline in rats was significantly inhibited by tacrine and PBN. Also the [$^3H$]choline efflux was reduced by tacrine and donepezil hydrochloride in the TR-BBB cells, in vitro the blood-brain barrier (BBB) model. These results suggest that these drugs may influence choline efflux transport from brain to blood and regulate the choline level in brain resulting in the increase of acetylcholine synthesis.