Which of the following statements about the major distribution barriers (blood-brain or fetal-placental) is true?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the blood-brain barrier is designed to restrict the passage of many drugs into and out of brain cells, regulating the entry of substances to protect the brain from harmful agents.
Explanation:
1. The blood-brain barrier is a specialized structure that tightly regulates the passage of substances from the bloodstream into the brain.
2. Many drugs, especially water-soluble and ionized ones (choice A), face difficulty crossing this barrier due to their properties.
3. The fetal-placental barrier (choice C) primarily protects the fetus from harmful substances but does not slow drug entry into brain cells.
4. Lipid-soluble drugs (choice D) can actually pass through these barriers easily due to their chemical properties, posing risks for pregnant women.
In summary, choice B is correct as it accurately describes the role of the blood-brain barrier in controlling drug entry into brain cells, while the other choices present inaccurate statements regarding these distribution barriers.
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