title: No-reflow disrupts the expression and distribution of connexin 43 in a swine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion can dephosphorylate and redistribute connexin 43 (Cx43). But it is unknown whether no-reflow phenomenon has an effect on the expression and distribution of Cx43 after acute infarction and reperfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  21 open-chest pigs were divided into three groups. Left anterior descending artery (LAD) occlusion for 90 min before 180 min of reperfusion was made in ischemia/reperfusion group. The pigs in ischemia groups were either subjected to LAD ligation for 90 min or for 270 min. No-reflow and risk regions were determined pathologically by dye staining. Cx43 expression was measured by western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Cx43 spatial distribution was shown by immunofluorescence examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The content of phosphorylated and mRNA of Cx43 were higher in reflow region than in the no-reflow or sustained ischemic region. The distribution of Cx43 was also altered in no-reflow region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are some differences in synthesis, expression and distribution of myocardial Cx43 at microvascular level after ischemia/reperfusion. Cx43 is partially rephosphorylated with reperfusion only in the reflow myocardium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China.
authors.forename: Yu-tong
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yue-jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hai-tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiang-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hai-yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Jing-lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D054318:No-Reflow Phenomenon / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D012333:RNA, Messenger