Blood-brain barrier, cerebrospinal fluid production

An especially important case is that of the brain. We may, as a rough model of the human body, consider two reservoirs of fluid, the blood and lymph, with volume Fj, and cerebrospinal fluid, the extracellular fluid of the brain and spinal column, with volume Fj. We assume that a vital substance is destroyed in each of these reservoirs at a characteristic rate, corresponding to the rate constants k- and k, that it diffuses across the blood-brain barrier at a rate determined by the product of the permeability and area of the barrier and the difference of the concentrations in the two... 

In addition, the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus facing the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) constitute the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). The BCSFB is also a significant area for exchange between the blood and the CSF. In rats the total calculated surface area of the choroid plexus is about 33% of that of the BBB [2]. In humans, based on the relative mass of the choroid plexus in comparison with the brain, the relative surface area of the choroid plexus may be in the region of 10% of that of the BBB. The CSF is secreted across the choroid plexus epithelial cells into the brain ventricular system [3] the remainder of the brain extracellular fluid (ECF) and the interstitial fluid (ISF) are secreted at the capillaries of the BBB themselves [4]. The ratio of fluid production from these sites is 40% 60%, respectively [5],... 

The second barrier separating the central nervous system from blood circulation is the choroid plexus or plexus choroideus. It is formed by a vascular sponge, which is surrounded by epithelial cells (ECs) and which is located within the ventricles ofthe brain. The actual barrier is formed by the epithelial cells and not by the interior capillary. One of the major functions of the choroid plexus is the production of cerebrospinal fluid (liquor). In addition, the epithelial cells secrete ions, peptides, nutrients, and vitamins [105]. 

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