RGD Reference Report - Cellular expression of connexins in the rat brain: neuronal localization, effects of kainate-induced seizures and expression in apoptotic neuronal cells. - Rat Genome Database

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Cellular expression of connexins in the rat brain: neuronal localization, effects of kainate-induced seizures and expression in apoptotic neuronal cells.

Authors: Condorelli, DF  Trovato-Salinaro, A  Mudo, G  Mirone, MB  Belluardo, N 
Citation: Condorelli DF, etal., Eur J Neurosci 2003 Oct;18(7):1807-27.
RGD ID: 1299355
Pubmed: PMID:14622215   (View Abstract at PubMed)

The identification of connexins (Cxs) expressed in neuronal cells represents a crucial step for understanding the direct communication between neurons and between neuron and glia. In the present work, using a double-labelling method combining in situ hybridization for Cx mRNAs with immunohistochemical detection for neuronal markers, we provide evidence that, among cerebral connexins (Cx26, Cx32, Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45 and Cx47), only Cx45 and Cx36 mRNAs are localized in neuronal cells in both developing and adult rat brain. In order to establish whether connexin expression is influenced in vivo by abnormal neuronal activity, we examined the short-term effects of kainate-induced seizures. The results revealed an unexpected expression of Cx26 and Cx45 mRNA in neuronal cells undergoing apoptotic cell death in the CA3-CA4, in the hilus of the hippocampus and in other brain regions involved in seizure-induced lesion. However, the expression of Cx26 and Cx45 mRNAs was not associated with detectable expression of corresponding proteins as evaluated by immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies. Moreover, in the same brain regions Cx32 and Cx43 were up-regulated in non-neruronal cells whereas the neuronal Cx36 was down-regulated. Taken together the present results provide novel information regarding the specific subpopulation of neurons expressing Cx45 and raise the question of the meaning of connexin mRNA expression in the neuronal apoptotic process.



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RGD Manual Disease Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

  
Object SymbolSpeciesTermQualifierEvidenceWithNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
GJA1HumanExperimental Seizures  ISOGja1 (Rattus norvegicus) RGD 
Gja1RatExperimental Seizures  IEP  RGD 
Gja1MouseExperimental Seizures  ISOGja1 (Rattus norvegicus) RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Gja1  (gap junction protein, alpha 1)

Genes (Mus musculus)
Gja1  (gap junction protein, alpha 1)

Genes (Homo sapiens)
GJA1  (gap junction protein alpha 1)

Objects referenced in this article
Gene Gjc1 gap junction protein, gamma 1 Rattus norvegicus
Gene Gjc2 gap junction protein, gamma 2 Rattus norvegicus
Gene Gjd2 gap junction protein, delta 2 Rattus norvegicus

Additional Information