A new model of the blood-brain barrier: co-culture of neuronal, endothelial and glial cells under dynamic conditions

DEVELOPING in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models that closely mimic the natural state is important for theoretical and practical applications, inc luding drug development. We previously developed an in vitro BBB model base d on co-culturing endothelial cells with glia in the presence of flow on ho llow fiber tube culture substrates. We now report that this dynamic in vitr o BBB (DIV-BBB) can be successfully used to co-culture differentiated serot onergic neurons in the presence of a BBB. These neurons demonstrated fluoxe tine-sensitive serotonin (5HT) uptake and depolarization-induced release of [H-3]5HT. Our results demonstrate that the DIV-BBB is a suitable model for culturing of neurons in a quasi-physiological microenvironment and in the presence of a high-resistance, stereoselective BBB. (C) 1999 Lippincott Wil liams & Wilkins.