Research Interest

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is composed of cerebral blood vessels, neurons, and scattered in between them, an astrocyte sheath. The homeostasis of this unit is critical for normal brain function and activity, especially the maintenance of blood-brain barrier (BBB) properties that regulate entry of blood components and clearance of brain waste. The astrocyte network contributes to water and ion homeostasis, as well as brain energy metabolism. 

Our research is focused on the changing physiological properties of the NVU after traumatic brain injury (TBI).  TBI can occur at any point in a person’s lifetime, affects a large number of soldiers in the battle field, and is known to result in both short- and long-term consequences. The functional and molecular consequences after TBI might be a result of the changing NVU properties observed near the TBI injury site, and at a distance from the site of the impact. We are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms behind TBI-induced dysfunctions in NVU homeostasis using a rodent model. We evaluate these changes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), behavioral testing paradigms, and histological and molecular biology techniques to address specific protein targets at the NVU interface (for example: aquaporins…). We hope our understanding of these basic mechanisms will help to generate new target-specific drugs to promote functional recovery of individuals affected by brain injury.

Selected Publications

1. J.BADAUT, S. ASHWAL, A ADAMI, B TONE, B RECKER, B TERNON, A. OBENAUS (2010) Brain water mobility decreases after astrocytic aquaporin-4 inhibition using RNA interference. J. Cereb Blood Flow and Metab. Sep 29. [Epub ahead of print]

 2. L. HUANG, A. SMITH, J. BADAUT, A. OBENAUS (2010) Dynamic characteristic of ⁵⁶Fe irradiation induced alterations in the rat brain: Magnetic resonance imaging and histological assessment Radiation Research. 173(6):729-37.

3. I. IHNENFELD-ARCIENEGA, J.F. BRUNET, J. BLOCH, J. BADAUT, (2010) Expression and Distribution of Aquaporin 1 and 9 in the Non-human Primate Brain: Comparison with the Rodent Brain Neuroscience 167(4):1103-14

4. J. BADAUT (2010) Aquaglyceroporin 9 in brain pathologies Neuroscience Jul 28;168(4):1047-57

5. M. PRICE, J. BADAUT, L.HIRT (2010) Activation of c-Jun in the nuclei of neurons of the CA-1 in thrombin preconditioning occurs via PAR-1. J. Neurosci Res. 88(6):1338-47.

6. L.HIRT, B. TERNON, M. PRICE, N. MASTOUR, J.F: BRUNET, J. BADAUT (2009) Protective role of early AQP4 induction against post-ischemic edema formation. J. of Cereb Blood Flow and metab  29(2):423-33.

7. J. BADAUT, J.F. BRUNET, J.M. PETIT, P.J. MAGISTRETTI AND L. REGLI (2008). Induction of brain aquaporin 9 (AQP9) in catecholaminergic neurons in diabetic rats. Brain Res. 1188:17-24

8. J. BADAUT, J.F. BRUNET and L. REGLI (2007) Aquaporins in brain: from Acqueduct to multi-duct. Metabolic Brain Dis. 22(3-4):251-63

9. R WANG, S ASHWAL, B TONE, HR TIAN, J BADAUT, A RASMUSSEN, A OBENAUS (2007) Albumin is not neuroprotective in a rat model of neonatal stroke. Ped. Research, 62, 3 : 261-266

10. J. BADAUT, S. ASHWAL, L^.REGLI, B. TONE, H.R. TIAN, A.OBENAUS (2007) Temporal and Regional Evolution of Aquaporin 4 Expression and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Rat Pup Model of Neonatal Stroke. Pediatric Res. 62, 3 : 248-254

11. C. GRANZIERA, J. THEVENET, M. PRICE, P.J. MAGISTRETTI, J. BADAUT, L. HIRT (2007) Thrombin preconditioning can be prevented by a selective c-jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor. Brain. Res. 114 : 217-25

12. M DE CASTRO RIBEIRO, L HIRT, J BOGOUSSLAVSKY, L REGLI and J BADAUT (2006) Time course of edema formation and brain aquaporin expression after transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Journal of Neuroscience Res. 83(7):1231-40

13. M DE CASTRO RIBEIRO, J BADAUT, M. PRICE, M. MEINS, J. BOGOUSSLAVSKY, D. MONARD and L HIRT (2006) Thrombin in ischemic neuronal death. Exp. Neurol. 198(1):199-203

 14. J BADAUT, L HIRT, M. PRICE, M. DE CASTRO RIBEIRO, PJ MAGISTRETTI and L REGLI (2005) Hypoxia/hypoglycemia preconditioning prevents the loss of functional electrical activity in organotypic slice cultures. Brain Res.1051 (1-2): 117-122

15. J. BADAUT, J.M. PETIT, J.F. BRUNET, P.J. MAGISTRETTI, C. CHARRIAUT-MARLANGUE AND L. REGLI (2004) Distribution of Aquaporin 9 in the adult rat brain: preferential expression in catecholaminergic neurons and in glial cells. Neuroscience. 128(1):27-38

16. L. HIRT, J. BADAUT, J. THEVENET, C. GRANZIERA, L. REGLI, F. MAURER, C. BONNY, J. BOGOUSSLAVSKY(2004). D-JNKI1, a cell permeant c-Jun-N-terminal kinase inhibitor protects against cell death in severe cerebral ischemia. Stroke. 35 (7): 1738-1743.

17. J. BADAUT, F. LASBENNES, P.J. MAGISTRETTI and L. REGLI (2002) Aquaporins in brain: distribution, physiology and pathophysiology. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 22 (4): 367-378

18. J. BADAUT, L HIRT, C GRANZIERA, J BOGOUSSLAVSKY, PJ MAGISTRETTI and L REGLI (2001) The astrocyte-specific expression of aquaporin 9 in mouse brain is increased following transient focal cerebral ischemia. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 21 (5): 477-482.