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Role of astroglial connexin30 in hippocampal gap junction coupling
Author(s) -
Gosejacob Dominic,
Dublin Pavel,
Bedner Peter,
Hüttmann Kerstin,
Zhang Jiong,
Tress Oliver,
Willecke Klaus,
Pfrieger Frank,
Steinhäuser Christian,
Theis Martin
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.21120
Subject(s) - gap junction , hippocampus , hippocampal formation , coupling (piping) , biology , reporter gene , astrocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , gene , gene expression , central nervous system , genetics , materials science , metallurgy , intracellular
The impact of connexin30 (Cx30) on interastrocytic gap junction coupling in the normal hippocampus is matter of debate; reporter gene analyses indicated a weak expression of Cx30 in the mouse hippocampus. In contrast, mice lacking connexin43 (Cx43) in astrocytes exhibited only 50% reduction in coupling. Complete uncoupling of hippocampal astrocytes in mice lacking both Cx30 and Cx43 suggested that Cx30 participates in interastrocytic gap junction coupling in the hippocampus. With comparative reporter gene assays, immunodetection, and cre/loxP‐based reporter approaches we demonstrate that Cx30 is more abundant than previously thought. The specific role of Cx30 in interastrocytic coupling has never been investigated. Employing tracer coupling analyses in acute slices of Cx30 deficient mice here we show that Cx30 makes a substantial contribution to interastrocytic gap junctional communication in the mouse hippocampus. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.