['Apposition of endothelial cells and astrocyte foot processes to the basal lamina matrix is postulated to underlie the cerebral microvessel permeability barrier. Focal cerebral ischemia induces rapid loss of select matrix-binding integrins from both cell compartments in the nonhuman primate. This study is the first to examine the conditions underlying integrin loss from these cell-types during ischemia in vitro and their relation to the changes in vivo.', 'The impact of normoxia or standardized oxygen-glucose deprivation on integrin expression by murine primary cerebral endothelial cells and astrocytes grown on matrix substrates (collagen IV, laminin, and perlecan) of the basal lamina were quantitatively assessed by flow cytometry.', 'Endothelial cell expression of the beta1 and alpha 5 subunits significantly increased on all matrix ligands, whereas astrocytes displayed modest significant decreases in alpha 5 and alpha 6 subunits. Oxygen-glucose deprivation produced a further significant increase in subunit beta1 expression by both cell types, but a clear decrease in both alpha1 and alpha 6 subunits by murine astrocytes.'] Do responses of endothelial cell and astrocyte matrix-integrin receptors to ischemia mimic those observed in the neurovascular unit?