Distribution of connexin37, connexin40 and connexin43 in the aorta and coronary artery of several mammals |
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Authors: | Marjan JA van Kempen Habo J Jongsma |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Medical Physiology and Sports Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80043, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands e-mail: kempen@med.uu.nl Tel.:+31-30-2538906/30–2538900, Fax:+31-30-2539036, NL |
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Abstract: | Intercellular communication between cells of the vessel wall is established by a combination of diffusion and convection of
humoral and endothelial factors in the extracellular fluid or by direct intercellular contacts present in the form of gap
junctions composed of proteins called connexins. At least connexin (Cx)37, Cx40 and Cx43 are expressed in the vessel wall,
but disparate findings with regard to the cell specific localisation of connexins in the vasculature indicate that the distribution
of connexins may be species and vessel specific. Moreover, differences in expression exist between cells in culture and tissue
sections. We performed an inventory immunohistochemical study on the localisation of Cx37, Cx40 and Cx43 on tissue sections
of the bovine, micropig and rat aorta and coronary system, which represent morphologically and functionally different types
of vessels in the arterial system. We could observe Cx40 labelling most commonly, although with various intensities, between
endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the species studied, with the exception of rat aortic smooth muscle cells. The distribution
of Cx43 is more differentiated and mostly confined to smooth muscle cells, although it can be detected scarcely between endothelial
cells. Cx37, when detectable, is predominantly expressed between endothelial cells in a heterogeneous pattern. We conclude
that Cx40 is the constitutive vascular gap junction protein in situ and guarantees cell coupling between cells in the vessel
wall. The differentiated distribution of both Cx37 and Cx43 suggests they are involved in more dynamic processes.
Accepted: 12 October 1999 |
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