Figure 6
Effects of amlodipine, nitrendipine and nilvadipine on Aβ transcytosis across an in vitro model of the BBB. Fluorescein labeled human Aβ1−42 was added to the basolateral compartment (“brain” side) whereas different doses of amlodipine, nitrendipine and nilvadipine were added to the apical side (“blood” side) of the in vitro BBB model. The amount of fluorescein-Aβ1−42 was quantified in the apical side over a period of 90 min to calculate the apparent permeability of Aβ1−42 for the different treatments conditions. ANOVA shows a statistically significant effect of nilvadipine (P < 0.05), of nitrendipine (P < 0.001) but not of amlodipine (P= 0.910) on Aβ transcytosis in vitro across the BBB layer of human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Post hoc analysis reveals a significant effect of nilvadipine at 10 µmol/L (P < 0.05) and a significant effect of nitrendipine at 5 µmol/L (P < 0.01) and 10 µmol/L (P < 0.001), showing that nilvadipine and nitrendipine stimulate the transport of Aβ from the brain to the periphery in an in vitro model of the BBB, whereas amlodipine is inefficient.