What is the Blood-Brain Barrier?

Your brain is super fragile. So how come it doesn’t get totally wrecked by infections or bacteria? Well, you’ve got this nifty protection called the blood-brain barrier! To help guide us through your brain’s awesome defense, we brought on Catie Profaci, a graduate student at UCSD and a blood-brain barrier expert! Find out more about your brain’s specialized endothelial cells and what happens when the BBB malfunctions.

In this episode of Neuro Transmissions, Alie and Catie discuss the blood-brain barrier, which is comprised of endothelial cells that protect the brain from potentially dangerous molecules circulating in the blood stream. The video explains the structure of the blood-brain barrier and covers the BBB’s tight junctions. Alie also gets to talk about her favorite brain cell, astrocytes, and how astrocytic end feet also help maintain the blood-brain barrier. Finally, we cover what can happen when the blood-brain barrier breaks down. We hope you enjoy the video and learn a little more about this often-misunderstood part of the brain!

Ryan M. Shaver, Carrie McKenzie, and Raymond Chin are our three Patreon Producers. Thanks you three! You're like the soft glow of a lamp on the pages of an engrossing book. Also, big shoutout to our newest patrons: City Beautiful and KTB!

Neuro Transmissions is a channel on a mission to bring neuroscience to everyone. It's not rocket surgery, it's brain science! Learn all sorts of fun and interesting things with Alie Astrocyte and Micah Psych every other Sunday by subscribing to the channel. Have a topic you want covered? Let us know in the comments. Share, like, and subscribe for more videos to come! Over and out.

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***Credits***

Footage from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was used for educational purposes and falls under fair use.

All other content is original and/or owned by Neuro Transmissions.

[neurotransmissions]

Two things:
1. At 2:39 it gets real orange. Don't worry, I did a dumb with the color correction.
2. The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

[gzfdhfn]

I discovered your channel one year and a half ago. I don't understand why you only have 14k subs. Your videos are so helpful and interesting. Keep it up !

[samad.chouihat]

I have read an Article a year ago about the BBB and i could not understand why do we need it until watching this . your channel is helpful, greetings from Algeria .

[ARTexplains]

Great video -- my favorite thing about the blood brain barrier is that it also blocks certain medications from entering the brain (such as those that might be used to treat prion diseases), which requires creative solutions to get around it and deliver the medications!

[Antweezy]

This channel needs more subscribers! Really informational

[erniellerena]

Whoever put the Watchmen graphic novel in the back is awesome. Made me love thus even more.

[josephinetso]

Likes from HK. This video is so much better than my 2 hrs lecture.

[BensLab]

Polished work as always! You guys are an impressive team!

[TeddyLovesBacon]

Very informative. I've always been really interested in understanding how the BBB works. Excellent presentation. Thank you! 🙏✌️

[sophieastrof]

This is a super awesome video! Love it

[djbis]

Cute and educational? yes, my brain wants more.

[anios]

OMG I LOVE THIS why didnt i find this earlier

[pareesazaman]

Why did I discover this rn! Thank you so much, this was fun :'))

[jaroslawslowinski]

Highly informative stuff. Many thanks!

[gawa]

I'm here for the 5B's, Blood Brain Barrier Beta Blockers and why I'm getting seriously lucid/vivid dreams on Propanolol tablets.

[namiralkilabi]

Thank you I learned alot from you guys.

[mikestevenson]

Brain science AND LoTR references?! :D Love it!

[dinogerardoprovido]

What if i have tiny unruptured aneurysm is my BBB compromised?

[RRAL]

Can the RTPCR TEST NASAL SWAB device reach & possibly break the barrier between the nose & brain ?

[LeonardTreman]

Find a woman who looks at you like these women look at human brains and you will be happy in life.