title: [Experimental study on expression of connexin 43 in meridians of rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To probe into expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in the meridians of the normal healthy rats and the relation among connexin, gap junction and meridian.
  
  
  METHODS
  PowerVision two step immunohistochemical technique and ASIAS-2000 automatical image-scan analyzing system were used to detect Cx43 level and distribution in the Kidney and Bladder Meridians of the rat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cx43 expressed mainly in skin epithelia, fibroblasts and mast cells of the subcutaneous layer. And expression of Cx43 in the Kidney and Bladder Meridians was significantly more than that in the control lines (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Connexins and gap junctions have close relation with the meridians, and the gap junctional intercellular communication may play an important role in the function of meridians.
authors.affiliation: Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Cui-hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Guang-ying
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ming-min
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan-ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D017630:Connexins; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D016740:Meridians; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins