The effect of cadmium chloride on the expression of E-cadherin was examined in bEnd.3 mouse brain endothelial cells. induced release, which were blocked by non-steroidal antinflamatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin and NS398 indicating the expression of COX-2 might contribute to production. decreased the expression of E-cadherin, but not VE-cadherin at levels of mRNA and protein. Reduced expression level of E-cadherin was restored by NSAIDs, which was reversed by the addition of . -induced decrease of E-cadherin level was also recovered by antioxidants including N-acetylcyteine (NAC) and trolox. Together with previous report which showed induced COX-2 expression in a cellular oxidative stress dependent manner, these data suggest that decreases E-cadherin expression through induction of cellular oxidative stress and in turn COX-2 expression in brain endothelial cells.