 |
 Previous Article | Next Article 
Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 11, 1421-1432, Copyright © 1991 by Society for Neuroscience
Gap junctions between cultured astrocytes: immunocytochemical, molecular, and electrophysiological analysis
R Dermietzel, EL Hertberg, JA Kessler and DC Spray
Department of Anatomy, University of Regensburg, Germany.
The properties of astroglial gap junction channels and the protein that
constitutes the channels were characterized by immunocytochemical,
molecular biological, and physiological techniques. Comparative
immunocytochemical labeling utilizing different antibodies specific for
liver connexin 32 and connexin 26 and antibodies to peptides corresponding
to carboxy-terminal sequences of the heart gap junction protein (connexin
43) indicates that the predominant gap junction protein in astrocytes is
connexin 43. The expression of this connexin in cultured astrocytes was
also established by Western and Northern blot analyses. Cultured astrocytes
expressed connexin 43 mRNA and did not contain detectable levels of the
mRNAs encoding connexin 32 or connexin 26. Further, the cells contained the
same primary connexin 43 translation product and the same phosphorylated
forms as heart. Finally, electrophysiological recordings under
voltage-clamp conditions revealed that astrocyte cell pairs were moderately
well coupled, with an average junctional conductance of about 13 nS.
Single-channel recordings indicated a unitary junctional conductance of
about 50-60 pS, which is of the same order as that found in cultured rat
cardiac myocytes, where the channel properties of connexin 43 were first
described. Thus, physiological properties of gap junction channels appear
to be determined by the connexin expressed, independent of the tissue type.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
M. R. Calera, Z. Wang, R. Sanchez-Olea, D. L. Paul, M. M. Civan, and D. A. Goodenough
Depression of Intraocular Pressure Following Inactivation of Connexin43 in the Nonpigmented Epithelium of the Ciliary Body
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.,
May 1, 2009;
50(5):
2185 - 2193.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. Maezawa, S. Swanberg, D. Harvey, J. M. LaSalle, and L.-W. Jin
Rett Syndrome Astrocytes Are Abnormal and Spread MeCP2 Deficiency through Gap Junctions
J. Neurosci.,
April 22, 2009;
29(16):
5051 - 5061.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Fukuda
Network Architecture of Gap Junction-Coupled Neuronal Linkage in the Striatum
J. Neurosci.,
January 28, 2009;
29(4):
1235 - 1243.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. P. Schools, M. Zhou, and H. K. Kimelberg
Development of Gap Junctions in Hippocampal Astrocytes: Evidence That Whole Cell Electrophysiological Phenotype Is an Intrinsic Property of the Individual Cell
J Neurophysiol,
September 1, 2006;
96(3):
1383 - 1392.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Ozog, S. M. Bernier, D. C. Bates, B. Chatterjee, C. W. Lo, and C. C.G. Naus
The Complex of Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor-Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Receptor {alpha} Up-Regulates Connexin43 and Intercellular Coupling in Astrocytes via the Janus Tyrosine Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Pathway
Mol. Biol. Cell,
November 1, 2004;
15(11):
4761 - 4774.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. M Berthoud, P. J Minogue, J. G Laing, and E. C Beyer
Pathways for degradation of connexins and gap junctions
Cardiovasc Res,
May 1, 2004;
62(2):
256 - 267.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. S. Duffy, A. W. Ashton, P. O'Donnell, W. Coombs, S. M. Taffet, M. Delmar, and D. C. Spray
Regulation of Connexin43 Protein Complexes by Intracellular Acidification
Circ. Res.,
February 6, 2004;
94(2):
215 - 222.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A. Iacobas, M. Urban-Maldonado, S. Iacobas, E. Scemes, and D. C. Spray
Array analysis of gene expression in connexin-43 null astrocytes
Physiol Genomics,
November 11, 2003;
15(3):
177 - 190.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Simard, G. Arcuino, T. Takano, Q. S. Liu, and M. Nedergaard
Signaling at the Gliovascular Interface
J. Neurosci.,
October 8, 2003;
23(27):
9254 - 9262.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Pereda, J. O'Brien, J. I. Nagy, F. Bukauskas, K. G. V. Davidson, N. Kamasawa, T. Yasumura, and J. E. Rash
Connexin35 Mediates Electrical Transmission at Mixed Synapses on Mauthner Cells
J. Neurosci.,
August 20, 2003;
23(20):
7489 - 7503.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z.-C. Ye, M. S. Wyeth, S. Baltan-Tekkok, and B. R. Ransom
Functional Hemichannels in Astrocytes: A Novel Mechanism of Glutamate Release
J. Neurosci.,
May 1, 2003;
23(9):
3588 - 3596.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. B. Dean, D. Ballantyne, D. L. Cardone, J. S. Erlichman, and I. C. Solomon
Role of gap junctions in CO2 chemoreception and respiratory control
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol,
October 1, 2002;
283(4):
L665 - L670.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E. Contreras, H. A. Sanchez, E. A. Eugenin, D. Speidel, M. Theis, K. Willecke, F. F. Bukauskas, M. V. L. Bennett, and J. C. Saez
Metabolic inhibition induces opening of unapposed connexin 43 gap junction hemichannels and reduces gap junctional communication in cortical astrocytes in culture
PNAS,
December 21, 2001;
(2001)
12589799.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. H. De Pina-Benabou, M. Srinivas, D. C. Spray, and E. Scemes
Calmodulin Kinase Pathway Mediates the K+-Induced Increase in Gap Junctional Communication between Mouse Spinal Cord Astrocytes
J. Neurosci.,
September 1, 2001;
21(17):
6635 - 6643.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K Jordan, R Chodock, A. Hand, and D. Laird
The origin of annular junctions: a mechanism of gap junction internalization
J. Cell Sci.,
January 2, 2001;
114(4):
763 - 773.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. D. Aberg, B. Carlsson, L. Rosengren, J. Oscarsson, O. G. P. Isaksson, L. Ronnback, and P. S. Eriksson
Growth Hormone Increases Connexin-43 Expression in the Cerebral Cortex and Hypothalamus
Endocrinology,
October 1, 2000;
141(10):
3879 - 3886.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Scemes, S. O. Suadicani, and D. C. Spray
Intercellular Communication in Spinal Cord Astrocytes: Fine Tuning between Gap Junctions and P2 Nucleotide Receptors in Calcium Wave Propagation
J. Neurosci.,
February 15, 2000;
20(4):
1435 - 1445.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. R. John, E. Scemes, S. O. Suadicani, J. S. H. Liu, P. C. Charles, S. C. Lee, D. C. Spray, and C. F. Brosnan
IL-1beta differentially regulates calcium wave propagation between primary human fetal astrocytes via pathways involving P2 receptors and gap junction channels
PNAS,
September 28, 1999;
96(20):
11613 - 11618.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. M. Froes, A. H. P. Correia, J. Garcia-Abreu, D. C. Spray, A. C. Campos de Carvalho, and V. M. Neto
Gap-junctional coupling between neurons and astrocytes in primary central nervous system cultures
PNAS,
June 22, 1999;
96(13):
7541 - 7546.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Srinivas, M. Costa, Y. Gao, A. Fort, G. I Fishman, and D. C Spray
Voltage dependence of macroscopic and unitary currents of gap junction channels formed by mouse connexin50 expressed in rat neuroblastoma cells
J. Physiol.,
June 15, 1999;
517(3):
673 - 689.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. S. He, J. X. Jiang, S. M. Taffet, and J. M. Burt
Formation of heteromeric gap junction channels by connexins 40 and 43 in vascular smooth muscle cells
PNAS,
May 25, 1999;
96(11):
6495 - 6500.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. L. Cotrina, J. H.-C. Lin, and M. Nedergaard
Cytoskeletal Assembly and ATP Release Regulate Astrocytic Calcium Signaling
J. Neurosci.,
November 1, 1998;
18(21):
8794 - 8804.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. L. Cotrina, J. Kang, J. H-C Lin, E. Bueno, T. W. Hansen, L. He, Y. Liu, and M. Nedergaard
Astrocytic Gap Junctions Remain Open during Ischemic Conditions
J. Neurosci.,
April 1, 1998;
18(7):
2520 - 2537.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Rozental, M. Morales, M. F. Mehler, M. Urban, M. Kremer, R. Dermietzel, J. A. Kessler, and D. C. Spray
Changes in the Properties of Gap Junctions during Neuronal Differentiation of Hippocampal Progenitor Cells
J. Neurosci.,
March 1, 1998;
18(5):
1753 - 1762.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. M. McKhann II, R. D'Ambrosio, and D. Janigro
Heterogeneity of Astrocyte Resting Membrane Potentials and Intercellular Coupling Revealed by Whole-Cell and Gramicidin-Perforated Patch Recordings from Cultured Neocortical and Hippocampal Slice Astrocytes
J. Neurosci.,
September 15, 1997;
17(18):
6850 - 6863.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Venance, N. Stella, J. Glowinski, and C. Giaume
Mechanism Involved in Initiation and Propagation of Receptor-Induced Intercellular Calcium Signaling in Cultured Rat Astrocytes
J. Neurosci.,
March 15, 1997;
17(6):
1981 - 1992.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. J. Christ, D. C. Spray, M. El-Sabban, L. K. Moore, and P. R. Brink
Gap Junctions in Vascular Tissues: Evaluating the Role of Intercellular Communication in the Modulation of Vasomotor Tone
Circ. Res.,
October 1, 1996;
79(4):
631 - 646.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Hofer, J. C. Saez, C. C. Chang, J. E. Trosko, D. C. Spray, and R. Dermietzel
C-erbB2/neu Transfection Induces Gap Junctional Communication Incompetence in Glial Cells
J. Neurosci.,
July 15, 1996;
16(14):
4311 - 4321.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Sontheimer
Coupling in Glial Cells: Who Is Coupled, and Why
Neuroscientist,
July 1, 1995;
1(4):
188 - 191.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E. Contreras, H. A. Sanchez, E. A. Eugenin, D. Speidel, M. Theis, K. Willecke, F. F. Bukauskas, M. V. L. Bennett, and J. C. Saez
Metabolic inhibition induces opening of unapposed connexin 43 gap junction hemichannels and reduces gap junctional communication in cortical astrocytes in culture
PNAS,
January 8, 2002;
99(1):
495 - 500.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
