INTRODUCTION Adequate functioning of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is important for brain homoeostasis and normal neuronal function. Disruption of the BBB has been described in several neurological diseases. Recent reports suggest that an increased permeability of the BBB also contributes to increased seizure susceptibility in patients with epilepsy. The endothelial glycocalyx is coating the lu...

Negative charges in the glycocalyx of red blood cells (RBC) and vascular endothelial cells (EC) facilitate frictionless blood flow through blood vessels. Na(+) selectively shields these charges controlling surface electronegativity. The question was addressed whether the ambient Na(+) concentration controls RBC-EC interaction. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) adhesion forces between RBC and ...

Alterations in the composition of the glycocalyx of venular endothelium in postcapillary venules (rat mesentery) were explored in models of inflammation and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Lectins were covalently linked to fluorescently labeled microspheres (0.1-microm diameter) or directly labeled with FITC. Adhesion of lectins specific for glucose and galactose residues of glycosaminoglycans (GA...

Whereas the glycocalyx of endothelial cells has been shown to influence solute flux from capillary microvessels, little is known about its contribution to the movement of macromolecules across the walls of other microvessels. We evaluated the hypothesis that a glycocalyx contributes resistance to protein flux measured in coronary arterioles. Apparent solute permeability (P(s)) to two proteins o...

BACKGROUND We hypothesized that the persistence of albumin microbubbles within the myocardium during crystalloid cardioplegia (CP) infusion and ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) occurs because of endothelial injury. METHODS AND RESULTS The myocardial transit rate of albumin microbubbles was measured in 18 dogs perfused with different CP solutions and in 12 dogs undergoing I-R. Electron microscopy wi...

BACKGROUND It remains to be established if, and to what extent, the coronary microcirculation becomes compromised during the development of obesity and insulin resistance. Recent studies suggest that changes in endothelial glycocalyx properties contribute to microvascular dysfunction under (pre-)diabetic conditions. Accordingly, early effects of diet-induced obesity on myocardial perfusion and ...

An extracellular coating was discovered by Bennet in 1963 on the luminal surface of endothelia and termed “glycocalyx”. Apparent thickness of the glycocalyx is ~ 0,5 μm. The glycocalyx consists of: proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins (some containing sialic acid residues). The amount of glycocalyx sulfate proteoglycan (SPG)-molecules vary between...

BACKGROUND In isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI), little is known about the endothelial response and the effects of endothelial glycocalyx shedding. We have previously shown that treatment with valproic acid (VPA) improves outcomes following TBI and hemorrhagic shock.In this model, we hypothesized that severe isolated TBI would cause shedding of the endothelial glycocalyx, as measured by ser...

Transepithelial transport of antigens and pathogens across the epithelial barrier by M cells may be a prerequisite for induction of mucosal immunity in the intestine. Efficient transport of antigens and pathogens requires adherence to M cell apical surfaces. Coupling of antigen-containing particles to the pentameric binding subunit of cholera toxin (CTB) has been proposed as a means for increas...

BACKGROUND Fluid resuscitation remains a cornerstone in the management of acute bleeding. According to Starling's "Three-compartment model", four-times more crystalloids have the same volume effect as colloids. However, this volume-replacement ratio remains a controversial issue as it may be affected by the degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx layer, a situation often found in the critical...