Brain Vascular Pericytes (BVP) are perivascular cells that are closely associated with the endothelium of capillaries and other small vessels [1]. BVP, located between endothelial cells and astrocytes in the brain, communicate with other cells by extending long cytoplasmic processes which wrap around the capillaries [1, 2]. BVP participate in a variety of processes including angiogenesis, endothelial cell survival, regulation of capillary blood flow, and establishment and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier [3, 4]. Pericyte dysregulation has been linked to several pathological conditions such as hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and tumor angiogenesis [2, 4]. The unique and diverse functions of BVP make them novel candidates for cell therapy in regenerative medicine. Cultured primary rat BVP (RBVP) are a useful in vitro model for understanding the molecular mechanisms of blood-brain barrier regulation and for studying a wide variety of central nervous system diseases.
Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use Pericyte Medium (PM, Cat. No. No. SC1201) for culturing RBVP in vitro.
Product Use
This product is for research use only. It is not approved for use in humans, animals, or in vitro diagnostic procedures.
Storage
Upon receiving, directly and immediately transfer the cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until they are needed for experiments.
Shipping
Dry ice
Warranty
Cells are only warranted if ScienCell media and reagents are used and the recommended protocols are followed.
References
[1] Dore-Duffy P, Cleary K. (2011) "Morphology and properties of pericytes." Methods Mol Biol. 686:49-68.
[2] Allt G, Lawrenson JG. (2001) "Pericytes: cell biology and pathology." Cells Tissues Organs. 169: 1-11.
[3] Daneman R, Zhou L, Kebede A, Barres B. (2010) "Pericytes are required for blood-brain barrier integrity during embryogenesis." Nature. 468:562-566.
[4] Kutcher M, Herman I. (2009) "The pericyte: cellular regulator of microvascular blood flow." Microvasc Res. 77: 235-246.