Illustration of a brain capillary that has leaky tight junctions and damaged pericytes (yellow). Tight junctions act as seals between the epithelial cells (red) of the capillary wall. Pericytes are contractile cells that wrap around the capillary wall. They both form part of the blood-brain barrier, restricting which molecules can pass from the blood to the surrounding neurons (nerve cells). Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier allows neurotoxic molecules and pathogens to enter the brain and is a feature of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / MARK AND MARY STEVENS NEUROIMAGING AND INFORMATICS INSTITUTE |
Bildgröße: | 5580 px × 3139 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |