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The Expression of Connexins during Growth and Development of Skeletal Elements in the Dog
Author(s) -
Schnapper A.,
Brehm R.,
Bergmann M.,
Meyer W.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
anatomia, histologia, embryologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1439-0264
pISSN - 0340-2096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2005.00669_106.x
Subject(s) - cartilage , anatomy , in situ hybridization , periosteum , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , endochondral ossification , immunohistochemistry , pathology , chemistry , gene expression , immunology , medicine , gene , biochemistry
Efficient and well‐regulated intercellular communication is essential to organize the activities of the different cell populations involved during growth and concomitant structural maturation of the skeleton. For direct cell‐cell communication gap junctions composed of connexins (Cx) are present. So far 21 Cx types have been identified in mammals, which differ in molecular permeability as well as tissue expression pattern. To characterize the Cx distribution in the developing canine skeleton, samples from humerus, scapula and lumbar vertebrae of Beagle dogs aged 1.5, 3, 4.5 months and 1.5 years were fixed in Bouin's solution, decalcified with 25% EDTA and embedded in paraffin wax. Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, the expression of Cx 26, 30, 31, 32, 43, and 45 was studied in bone tissue plus associated epiphyseal and growth plate cartilage. Of all bone cells, osteoblasts showed the largest Cx expression repertoire: they were positive for Cx 26, 30, 32 and 43. After transformation into bone lining cells Cx43 expression was lost while in osteocytes only Cx 26 and 32 was detected. A wide variety of Cx reactions was also found in osteoclasts: Cx 26, 30, 32, and 43. In contrast, chondrocytes showed a much more restricted Cx expression pattern. Positive reactions were only seen in hypertrophic chondrocytes of epiphyseal cartilage (Cx 26, 31, 32) and in the proliferative (Cx32) and hypertrophic zone (Cx 26 and 32) of growth plate cartilage. Additionally, Cx31 was strongly expressed in the cellular layer of the periosteum covering areas of intensive bone modelling in the puppies. Age‐ and microlocation‐dependent variations in expression and/or staining intensity were also observed in the other Cx types. These results demonstrated that canine bone cells are capable of synthesizing a wide variety of Cx types during skeletal development, thus propagating different cellular signals via gap junctions in a differentially regulated and requirement orientated manner.