Abstract
The blood–nerve barrier (BNB) defines the physiological space within which the axons, Schwann cells, and other associated cells of a peripheral nerve function. The BNB consists of the endoneurial microvessels within the nerve fascicle and the investing perineurium. The restricted permeability of these two barriers protects the endoneurial microenvironment from drastic concentration changes in the vascular and other extracellular spaces. It is postulated that endoneurial homeostatic mechanisms regulate the milieu intérieur of peripheral axons and associated Schwann cells. These mechanisms are discussed in relation to nerve development, Wallerian degeneration and nerve regeneration, and lead neuropathy. Finally, the putative factors responsible for the cellular and molecular control of BNB permeability are discussed. Given the dynamic nature of the regulation of the permeability of the perineurium and endoneurial capillaries, it is suggested that the term blood–nerve interface (BNI) better reflects the functional significance of these structures in the maintenance of homeostasis within the endoneurial microenvironment.
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Acknowledgments
This work is partially supported by RO1–NS30197 and RO1-DI2078374 (NIH), IBN-9420525 (NSF), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and MedCen Foundation, Macon, GA (No. 23750). The invaluable assistance of Mr. Daniel Mizisin and Mr. John Knight in the preparation of figures and discussions with Dr. Quentin Smith are gratefully acknowledged.
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Weerasuriya, A., Mizisin, A.P. (2011). The Blood-Nerve Barrier: Structure and Functional Significance. In: Nag, S. (eds) The Blood-Brain and Other Neural Barriers. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 686. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-938-3_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-938-3_6
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