Late onset and increasing expression of the gap junction protein connexin30 in adult murine brain and long-term cultured astrocytes.
In rat brain, expression of the gap junction protein connexin30 increased during the first 3 weeks after birth and reached its maximum after 4 weeks, as shown by analysis with specific connexin30 antibodies. This contrasts with the prenatal onset of connexin43 expression. On cryosections of rat brain, connexin30 immunoreactivity was found near blood vessels and in ependymal as well as in leptomeningeal cells. Expression in the neuropil was first noticed 3 weeks after birth, showing the same spatial pattern of immunoreactivity as connexin43. This late onset of connexin30 expression in astrocytes was also seen in long-term glial cell cultures, where connexin30 was coexpressed with the astrocytic marker proteins S-100beta and glial fibrillary acid protein. In acute brain slices, connexin30 immunofluorescent signals were detected on processes of functionally identified astrocytes. Thus, our results show that connexin30 is expressed in three different cell types of the rodent brain. The late onset of connexin30 expression in astrocytes suggests that this gap junctional protein fulfills a role in intercellular communication among mature astrocytes.
Kunzelmann
P
P
Institut für Genetik, Abteilung Molekulargenetik, Universität Bonn, Germany.
Schröder
W
W
Traub
O
O
Steinhäuser
C
C
Dermietzel
R
R
Willecke
K
K
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000075302:Connexin 30; D017630:Connexins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004594:Electrophysiology; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D019581:Neuropil / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000075302:Connexin 30; D017630:Connexins; C100629:Gjb6 protein, mouse; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins