Brain endothelial dysfunction following pyrithiamine induced thiamine deficiency in the rat.

•Decreased endothelial EBA-1 and RECA-1 immunoreactivity in the brain indicates vascular damage following PT exposure.•Extensive proliferation of microglial marker CD11b in the same regions where neurodegeneration occurs suggests neuroinflammation following PT exposure.•Reduction of RECA-1 containing endothelial cells around the same area where neurodegeneration occurs suggests disruption of the BBB.