Expression of connexin 37, 40 and 43 in rat mesenteric arterioles and resistance arteries.

摘要: Connexins are the protein constituents of gap junctions which mediate intercellular communication in most tissues. In arterioles appear to be important for conduction vasomotor responses along vessel. Studies expression pattern connexin isoforms microcirculation sparse. We investigated three major vascular connexins mesenteric (diameter <50 µm) from male Sprague-Dawley rats, since conducted have been described these vessels. The findings were compared with those obtained upstream small resistance arteries. Indirect immunofluorescence techniques used on whole mounts and frozen sections arteries approximately 300 µm). Mesenteric expressed Cx40 Cx43 endothelial layer, Cx37 was found but not all demonstrated media. cells Cx37, Cx43. Ultrastructural studies confirmed that junction plaques between present, whereas myoendothelial, or smooth muscle cell could demonstrated. suggest may well coupled favour vessels propagated through layer.