Gap junctions in the epithelium and superficial fiber cells from young mice were examined in lenses prepared by rapid-freezing, and processed for freeze-substitution and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. There appeared to be three structural types of gap junction: one type between epithelial cells and two types between fiber cells. Epithelial gap junctions seen by freeze-substitution were ap...

Background: Hippocampal damages, which are accompanied by inflammation, are among the main causes of epilepsy acquisition. We previously reported that chronic intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modulates epileptogenesis in rats. There is a network of gap junction channels in the hippocampus that contribute to epileptogenesis. Gap junction channels are formed ...

PURPOSE To investigate the structural remodeling in gap junctions associated with cholesterol redistribution during fiber cell maturation in the adult chicken lens. We also evaluated the hypothesis that the cleavage of the COOH-terminus of chick Cx50 (formerly Cx45.6) during fiber cell maturation would affect the gap junction remodeling. METHODS Freeze-fracture TEM and filipin cytochemistry w...

Background: Gap junctions composed of connexins (Cx) are functional in cell defense by propagation of toxic/death molecules to neighboring cells. Hippocampus, one of the brain regions with particular vulnerability to damage, has a wide network of gap junctions. Functional response of astrocytic Cx30 and neuronal Cx32 to hippocampal damage is unknown. Methods: We infused lipopolysaccharide (LPS)...

Both neurons and glia throughout the central nervous system are organized into networks by gap junctions. Among glia, gap junctions facilitate metabolic homeostasis and intercellular communication. Among neurons, gap junctions form electrical synapses that function primarily for communication. However, in neurodegenerative states due to disease or injury gap junctions may be detrimental to surv...

The subcellular distributions and co-associations of the gap junction-forming proteins connexin 47 and connexin 32 were investigated in oligodendrocytes of adult mouse and rat CNS. By confocal immunofluorescence light microscopy, abundant connexin 47 was co-localized with astrocytic connexin 43 on oligodendrocyte somata, and along myelinated fibers, whereas connexin 32 without connexin 47 was c...

The connexin family of proteins (Cx) that form intercellular gap junctions in vertebrates is well represented in the mammalian central nervous system. Among these, Cx30 and Cx43 are present in gap junctions of astrocytes. Cx32 is expressed by oligodendrocytes and is present in heterologous gap junctions between oligodendrocytes and astrocytes as well as at autologous gap junctions between succe...

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a complex inflammatory process and is categorized as a multifactorial disease involving the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. There are many factors which play role in predisposition and development of AS. In this review we have tried to address the basic pathophysiology of AS lesions and the role played by two important factors - telomeres and estrogens in...

Neural processing occurs in parallel in distant cortical areas even for simple perceptual tasks. Associated cognitive binding is believed to occur through the interareal synchronization of rhythmic activity in the gamma (30-80 Hz) range. Such oscillations arise as an emergent property of the neuronal network and require conventional chemical neurotransmission. To test the potential role of gap ...