title: Connexin 36 promotes cortical spreading depolarization and ischemic brain damage.
abstract: Cortical spreading depolarization (CSD) promotes the progression of neuronal injury after cerebral ischemia. However, the mechanisms of propagation of postischemic CSD events are still unclear. In this study we characterized the role of the main neuronal gap junction protein connexin 36 (Cx36) in generating postischemic CSDs. In Cx36-deficient mice and controls we occluded the distal middle cerebral artery. To detect CSD events we recorded the direct current and laser Doppler flow. In addition, locomotor function and the infarct size were determined. Cx36-deficient mice had significantly fewer and shorter CSD events than wild-type controls. Additionally, Cx36 deletion is neuroprotective, leading to a better functional outcome and decreased infarct size after ischemia. These results suggest a detrimental role for Cx36 after ischemia, possibly by promoting CSD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bargiotas
authors.forename: Sajjad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Mahbubur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Nurith
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jakob
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trabold
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schilling
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Plesnila
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Monyer
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwaninger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017630:Connexins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013181:Cortical Spreading Depression / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein