The blood–brain barrier and cerebral angiogenesis: lessons from the cold-injury model

Brain injury is associated with an initial blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, which can be life threatening. A second phase of BBB breakdown accompanies the angiogenesis occurring at the lesion margins. Studies of the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes are essential to determine targets for therapeutic intervention, as well as the time periods during which therapeutic intervention could ameliorate brain damage and thus improve the clinical outcome.