TY - JOUR T1 - Astrocytic Gap Junctions Remain Open during Ischemic Conditions JF - The Journal of Neuroscience JO - J. Neurosci. SP - 2520 LP - 2537 DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-07-02520.1998 VL - 18 IS - 7 AU - Maria Luisa Cotrina AU - Jian Kang AU - Jane H-C Lin AU - Earl Bueno AU - Thomas W. Hansen AU - Lili He AU - Yulin Liu AU - Maiken Nedergaard Y1 - 1998/04/01 UR - http://www.jneurosci.org/content/18/7/2520.abstract N2 - Gap junctions are highly conductive channels that allow the direct transfer of intracellular messengers such as Ca2+and inositol triphosphate (IP3) between interconnected cells. In brain, astrocytes are coupled extensively by gap junctions. We found here that gap junctions among astrocytes in acutely prepared brain slices as well as in culture remained open during ischemic conditions. Uncoupling first occurred after the terminal loss of plasma membrane integrity. Gap junctions therefore may link ischemic astrocytes in an evolving infarct with the surroundings. The free exchange of intracellular messengers between dying and potentially viable astrocytes might contribute to secondary expansion of ischemic lesions. ER -