Figure 1

Demonstration of enhanced FITC-albumin measurement as BBB leakage marker at 5 and 25 hours after embolic stroke in rats by confocal laser scanning micrographs. (A), representative striatal ischemia-related leakage of Cy2-enhanced FITC-albumin at 5× magnification in a NBO-treated animal at 5 hours. (B), enhanced FITC-albumin in ischemic border zone at 10× magnification showing impaired vascular structures with leakage phenomena. (C), para- and intravasal inserted region of interests at 63× magnification. (D), 63× magnification of the corresponding area at the non-ischemic hemisphere: Detection of FITC-albumin background staining combined with Cy3-immunolabeling of SMI-71 for vessel localization. Absent leakage indicates BBB integrity. Scale bars: in A = 500 μm, in B = 100 μm, and in D = 25 μm.