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DISTRIBUTION OF CONNEXINS IN THE MICROCIRCULATION
Author(s) -
Duling Brian R.,
Damon David N.,
Day Kathleen H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a911-b
Subject(s) - connexin , gap junction , cremaster muscle , microcirculation , endothelium , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , intravital microscopy , confocal , biology , confocal microscopy , cell junction , chemistry , intracellular , cell , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , mathematics , geometry
Longitudinal intercellular communication along the arteriolar endothelium has been shown be a critical part of the regulation of microvascular function. Such communication is mediated in large part by gap junctions, which are composed of 3 connexin proteins (Cx) 37, 40, 43. To date, there has been no systematic exploration of the connexins expressed in the microvascular endothelium. We have used the Olympus confocal microscope to examine frozen sections and enface whole mounts from unperfused mouse cremaster muscles using antibodies directed toward these proteins. In unperfused arteriolar microvessels all three connexins are expressed at the endothelial cell junctions. Cx43 is also detectable in a perinuclear location. In the terminal arterioles Cx40 and 37 expression is reduced and in the capillaries expression of both becomes patchy and in many capillaries undetectable toward the venous end. Cx43 is robustly expressed throughout the capillaries. All of the 3 connexin proteins are sharply reduced in the venules. Where expressed, all three proteins may be present singly in individual plaques or co‐localized with other connexins. Both Cx40 and Cx43 are positioned within the IEL at locations favorable for the formation of the myoendothelial junction. Supported by USPHS NIH Grant #53318