X-Message-Number: 13091
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 16:38:14 -0800
From: Jeff Davis <>
Subject: penetrating the blood-brain barrier

Friends,

Occasionally, when the subject of cryoprotectant absorbtion by brain tissue
comes up, the Blood-Brain Barrier is mentioned as an impediment.  The
following article from Eurekalert has some promising news re the BBB problem.

Oregon Health Sciences University Researchers track
    long-term results of chemotherapy assisted by
    blood-brain barrier disruption 

The article mentions that

>More than 15 years ago, OHSU neurosurgeon Edward A. Neuwelt, M.D.,
pioneered a
>    unique method for outwitting the blood-brain barrier. Neuwelt found
the introduction
>    of a concentrated sugar solution caused a temporary disruption of the
barrier allowing
>    for the passage of chemotherapy drugs.

Which I find interesting because, as I recall, some animals use elevated
sugar levels as a kind natural "antifreeze"(cryoprotectant)  when exposed
to extreme cold in their natural environment.


And while I'm on the subject, not that long ago there was this, again from
Eurekalert:

University of Maryland Medical Center 

    UM researchers discover 'key' to blood-brain barrier 

    Findings Could Lead to New Treatments for Brain Disorders 

    Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in
Baltimore have
    identified a receptor in the human brain that regulates the interface
between the
    bloodstream and the brain, which is known as the blood-brain barrier.

The full text of the announcements can be found at Eurekalert, which can be
found at:

                        http://www.eurekalert.org/

			Best, Jeff Davis

	   "Everything's hard till you know how to do it."
					Ray Charles				

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