000003057 001__ 3057 000003057 005__ 20251013112712.0 000003057 0247_ $$2DOI$$a10.6083/M4ZW1KG5 000003057 037__ $$aETD 000003057 245__ $$aFerumoxytol iron oxide nanoparticles as a magnetic resonance contrast agent in central nervous system lesions 000003057 260__ $$bOregon Health and Science University 000003057 269__ $$a2018 000003057 336__ $$aDissertation 000003057 502__ $$bPh.D. 000003057 520__ $$aThe mammalian brain is supplied with blood by specialized vasculature that is structurally and functionally distinct from that of the periphery. A defining feature of this vasculature is a physical blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB separates blood components from the brain microenvironment, regulating the entry and exit of ions, nutrients, macromolecules, and energy metabolites. Over the last two decades, physiological studies of cerebral blood flow dynamics have demonstrated that substantial intercellular communication occurs between cells of the vasculature and the neurons and glia that abut the vasculature. These findings suggest that the BBB does not function independently, but as a module within the greater context of a multicellular neurovascular unit (NVU) that includes neurons, astrocytes, pericytes, and microglia as well as the blood vessels themselves. Here, we describe the roles of these NVU components as well as how they act in concert to modify cerebrovascular function and permeability in health and select diseases. 000003057 540__ $$fCC BY 000003057 542__ $$fIn copyright - single owner 000003057 650__ $$aMagnetic Resonance Imaging$$021747 000003057 650__ $$aMacrophages$$021733 000003057 650__ $$aCerebrovascular Circulation$$016382 000003057 650__ $$aCell Communication$$016275 000003057 650__ $$aBrain$$015788 000003057 650__ $$aMammals$$021784 000003057 650__ $$aBlood-Brain Barrier$$015687 000003057 650__ $$aNeuroinflammatory Diseases$$013756 000003057 6531_ $$airon oxide nanoparticles 000003057 6531_ $$aferumoxytol 000003057 6531_ $$agadolinium-based contrast agents 000003057 691__ $$aSchool of Medicine$$041369 000003057 692__ $$aVollum Institute$$041509 000003057 7001_ $$aMcConnell, Heather$$uOregon Health and Science University$$041354$$10000-0002-0505-6316 000003057 7201_ $$aNeuwelt, Edward$$uOregon Health and Science University$$041354$$7Personal$$eAdvisor 000003057 7201_ $$aMuldoon, Leslie$$uOregon Health and Science University$$041354$$7Personal$$eCo-Advisor 000003057 8564_ $$9f783e5a8-372f-45d6-a13b-fbde7ce6608e$$s31776779$$uhttps://digitalcollections.ohsu.edu/record/3057/files/3990_etd.pdf$$ePublic$$2b5acb36eb67d17d99f8a50aa04187597$$31 000003057 905__ $$a/rest/prod/mk/61/rh/15/mk61rh152 000003057 909CO $$ooai:digitalcollections.ohsu.edu:3057$$pstudent-work 000003057 980__ $$aTheses and Dissertations