title: Involvement of gap junctional communication in secretion.
abstract: Glands were the first type of tissues in which the permissive role of gap junctions in the cell-to-cell transfer of membrane-impermeant molecules was shown. During the 40 years that have followed this seminal finding, gap junctions have been documented in all types of multicellular secretory systems, whether of the exocrine, endocrine or pheromonal nature. Also, compelling evidence now indicates that gap junction-mediated coupling, and/or the connexin proteins per se, play significant regulatory roles in various aspects of gland functions, ranging from the biosynthesis, storage and release of a variety of secretory products, to the control of the growth and differentiation of secretory cells, and to the regulation of gland morphogenesis. This review summarizes this evidence in the light of recent reports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, C.M.U., 1 rue Michel Servet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michon
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nlend Nlend
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bavamian
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boucard
authors.forename: Dorothée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caille
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cancela
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charollais
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Charpantier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klee
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peyrou
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Populaire
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zulianello
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D002118:Calcium