Oleic acid reversibly opens the blood-brain barrier

Abstract

This study examined the effect of intracarotid oleic acid infusion on blood-brain barrier permeability. Oleic acid was infused for 30 s at a rate of 6ml/min into the right internal carotid artery at concentrations of 10-6, 10-5, 2 x 10-5 and 5 x 10-5 M. Extensive Evans blue-albumin extravasation was observed 15 min after the administration of 2 x 10-5 M oleic acid. The permeability surface area product for [alpha]-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB), determined 1-11 min following the infusion of oleic acid was increased 10-fold following infusion of 10-5 M oleic acid and 20-fold following the administration of 5 x 10-5 M oleate. The blood-brain barrier opening to AIB proved to be reversible 80-90 min after the infusion of 2 x 10-5 M oleic acid. The possible mechanisms of the oleic acid effect are discussed.