Understanding barrier mechanisms in the developing brain to aid therapy for the dysfunctional brain

The brain, both in the adult and during development, is protected by morphological barriers and functional mechanisms that provide a stable internal environment. Understanding these processes in the developing brain may lead to novel therapies for brain disorders, as some transport mechanisms, particularly those in the choroid plexus, may prove more amenable to devising novel delivery systems. Based on results from studies of the transfer of specific proteins across the blood-cerebrospinal fluid interface in the developing brain, the steps required to develop such a delivery system are outlined. Knowledge of barrier mechanisms in the developing brain may be relevant to treating neuropsychiatric conditions in children and adults for whom barrier dysfunction in the fetus, precipitated by adverse factors such as maternal infection, may contribute to the neuropathology underlying disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. © 2011 Future Medicine Ltd.