Influence of an abrupt increase in blood pressure on the blood-brain barrier permeability during acute hypertension and epileptic seizures

Abstract

The interrelationship between the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier according to the Evans-blue passage and an abrupt increase in blood pressure (DeltaP) was studied in rats subjected to adrenaline-induced acute hypertension and also pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures. Arterial blood pressure was increased by adrenaline, then immediately i.v. nifedipine was injected and subsequently decreased to the control value in the acute hypertensive group. Arterial blood pressure was increased by pentylenetetrazol, then immediately GABA (gamma -aminobutiric acid) was injected and the blood pressure was decreased to the control value in the seizure group.