Determining Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Using Fluorescent Dyes in an EAE Mouse Model

Source: Tietz, S. M., et al., Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo. J. Vis. Exp. (2019). This video demonstrates a procedure for assessing blood-brain barrier disruption in an EAE mouse model. Fluorescent dyes of different sizes are injected retro-orbitally and circulate through the brain's blood vessels. The smaller dye leaks through gaps into the brain tissue, while the larger dye enters only if the disruption is severe, correlating with the extent of barrier damage.