Gap junctions are involved in cell migration in the early postnatal subventricular zone.
The massive migration of neuroblasts and young neurons through the anterior extension of the postnatal subventricular zone (SVZ), known as the rostral migratory stream (RMS) is still poorly understood on its molecular basis. In this work, we investigated the involvement of gap junctional communication (GJC) in the robust centrifugal migration from SVZ/RMS explants obtained from early postnatal (P4) rats. Cells were dye-coupled in homocellular and heterocellular pairings and expressed at least two connexins, Cx 43 and 45. Treatment with the uncoupler agent carbenoxolone (CBX, 10-100 microM) reversibly reduced outgrowth from SVZ explants, while its inactive analog, glycyrhizinic acid (GZA), had no effect. Consistent with a direct effect on cell migration, time-lapse video microscopy show that different pharmacological uncouplers cause an abrupt and reversible arrest of cell movement in explants. Our results indicate that GJC is positively involved in the migration of neuroblasts within the SVZ/RMS.
Marins
Mônica
M
Laboratório de Neuroanatomia Celular, Programa de Anatomia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Xavier
Anna L R
AL
Viana
Nathan B
NB
Fortes
Fábio S A
FS
Fróes
Maira M
MM
Menezes
João R L
JR
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D054443:Cell Migration Assays; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D017630:Connexins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D002229:Carbenoxolone