Electromagnetic pulse induced blood-brain barrier breakdown through tight junction opening in rats

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the main obstacle to hydrophilic and large molecules to enter the brain, maintaining the stability of the central nervous system (CNS). But many environmental factors may affect the permeability and structure of the BBB. Electromagnetic pulses (EMP) irradiation has been proven to enhance the permeability of the BBB, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. To explore the potential mechanism of EMP-induced BBB opening, this study investigated the permeability, fine structure and the proteins expression of the tight junction (TJ) of the BBB in the rats exposed to EMP. Using the leakage of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran with different molecular mass under different field intensity of EMP exposure, we found that the tracer passing through the BBB is size-dependent in the rat exposed to EMP as field intensity increased. Transmission electron microscopy showed TJ of the endothelial cells in the EMP-exposed group was open, compared with the sham-irradiated group. But the levels of TJ proteins including ZO-1, claudin-5, or occludin were not changed as indicated by western blot. These data suggest that EMP induce BBB opening in a field intensity-dependent manner and probably through dysfunction of TJ proteins instead of their expression. Our findings increase the understanding of the mechanism for EMP working on the brain and are helpful for CNS protection against EMP.