Die bloed-brein-skans

Abstract

<jats:p>The composition of the extracellular fluid (ECF) of the brain is of particular importance, because normal functioning of brain cells depends largely upon a chemically stable fluid environment. Changes in the ECF can lead to serious impairment of brain function. The existence of a barrier between the blood and the brain tissue, by means of which a stable surrounding is maintained, was postulated about 80 years ago and we now know that it resides in the continuous layer of endothelium cells of the brain blood capillaries.</jats:p>