title: Involvement of connexin43 in the acute hyperosmotic stimulus‑induced synthesis and release of vasopressin in the supraoptic nucleus of rats.
abstract: There is evidence that astroglial connexin43 (Cx43) in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) is required for the hyperosmolarity‑induced increase in Fos protein expression in magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs). In the present study, the role of astroglial Cx43 in the synthesis and release of vasopressin (VP) by MNCs in the SON subjected to hyperosmotic stimulus was examined. The results revealed that the VP levels in the SON and plasma were increased following acute hyperosmotic stimulus. Treatment of MNCs with Cx43‑specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASODN), which temporarily reduced Cx43 protein production, limited the VP synthesis and release induced by a hyperosmotic stimulus. Similarly, the addition of gap junction and Cx43 hemichannel blockers also attenuated the VP synthesis and release induced by an acute hyperosmotic stimulus. A high extracellular [Ca2+]([Ca2+]o) has been demonstrated to reduce the gap junction activity or opening probability of Cx54 hemichannels. Notably, it was identified that high [Ca2+]o attenuated the VP synthesis and release induced by acute hyperosmotic stimulus, while low [Ca2+]o had a weak or no effect. These results suggested that Cx43 participates in the VP synthesis and release induced by hyperosmotic stimulation in the SON.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, P.R. China.
authors: Shan
authors: S
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Opthalmology, Jinan Military General Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250031, P.R. China.
authors: Yong-Qiang
authors: YQ
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, P.R. China.
authors: Cheng-Feng
authors: CF
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, P.R. China.
authors: Ya-Na
authors: YN
authors: Li
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, P.R. China.
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, P.R. China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; C514423:Gap 26 peptide; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014667:Vasopressins; D002229:Carbenoxolone; D002118:Calcium