Entry of Bilirubin into the Brain Due to Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier

Abstract

A potential animal model of kernicterus has been developed. The blood-brain barrier was opened on one side of the brain, by brief infusion of a hypertonic solution into the carotid artery. Upon peripheral infusion of bilirubin, the animals developed unilateral yellow staining of the brain: the treated side was stained whereas the control side was not. This cerebral icterus resulted from the entry of albumin-bound bilirubin into the brain, and not from the passage of free bilirubin.