Penetration of verapamil across blood brain barrier following cerebral ischemia depending on both paracellular pathway and P-glycoprotein transportation

► BBB penetration of verapamil during cerebral I/R injury was higher than normal. ► Up regulation of P-gp following I/R limited verapamil delivering into brain. ► Enhanced verapamil penetration following I/R mainly depended on BBB destroy. ► ICAM-1 and MMP-9 over expression induced BBB TJs destroy following I/R.