Concentration of GDNF in sonicated tissues after focused ultrasound-induced BBB disruption post-injection with GDNF (800 µg/kg) through the tail vein.

<p>(A) Control group (unsonicated group). (B) MB and GDNF group (GDNF group). (C) MB-GDNF group. *<i>p</i><0.01, compared with Group A; ^#<i>p</i><0.05, compared with group B.</p

MRI monitoring of BBB disruption and photographs of harvested brain showing BBB disruption induced by focused ultrasound.

<p>(A) BBB opening was monitored by leakage of the MR contrast agent into the brain parenchyma on axial (AX) and coronal (COR) MR images (arrows). (B) The location of the BBB opening was confirmed by EB staining of the affected area.</p

Ultrastructural electron microscopic observation of cell damage.

<p>(A) Control group (unsonicated group). (B) Group 6. (C) Group 11. (D) Group 13. (E) Group 14. Endothelial and nerve cells were severely damaged in Groups D and E, but ultrastructural changes were not observed in Groups A–C. The scale bar represents 150 nm.</p

Evans Blue extravasation under the ultrasonic conditions presented in <b>Table 1</b>.

<p>Evans Blue extravasation (mean ± SEM) was significantly higher in Groups 6, 11, 13, and 14 than in the other groups. *<i>p</i><0.01, compared with the other groups besides groups 6, 11, 13 and 14.</p

L₁₈ ( 3⁷ ) orthogonal expermiental design.

(#)<p>Ultrasonic irradiation time.</p>(*)<p>The Negative peak value of acoustic pressure measured by hydrophone in water.</p>($)<p>The time from injecting microbubbles into vessels to ultrasonic irradiation.</p