Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry Priciples for Free Access to Science
  Search:   
    >> Advanced Search

Guidelines | Subscriptions | About | exPRESS - Current - Archive | Business Information | Contact
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Yeh, H.-I
Right arrow Articles by Tsai, C.-H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Yeh, H.-I
Right arrow Articles by Tsai, C.-H.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Vol. 48, 1377-1390, October 2000, Copyright © 2000, The Histochemical Society, Inc.

ARTICLE

Age-related Alteration of Gap Junction Distribution and Connexin Expression in Rat Aortic Endothelium

Hung-I Yeha, Hao-Min Changa, Wen-Wei Lua, Yi-Nan Leea, Yu-Shien Kob, Nicholas J. Seversc, and Cheng-Ho Tsaia
a Departments of Internal Medicine and Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan
b National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom and The First Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
c National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom

Correspondence to: Cheng-Ho Tsai, Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92, Sec 2, North Chung San Road Taipei 10449, Taiwan. E-mail: cht7678@ms2.mmh.org.tw

We investigated endothelial gap junctions and their three component connexins, connexin37 (Cx37), Cx40, and Cx43, during growth and senescence in rat aorta by en face immunoconfocal microscopy and electron microscopy. Gap junction spots labeled by specific antisera against Cx37, Cx40, and Cx43 were quantified at 1 day, 7 days, 28 days, 16 months, and >=20 months of age, and the relationship between the connexins was examined by co-localization analysis. At birth, all three connexins were abundantly expressed; the number and total area of connexin spots then declined within 1 week (p<0.05 for each connexin). From 1 week, each connexin showed a distinct temporal expression pattern. Whereas Cx43 signal decreased progressively, Cx37 signal fluctuated in a downward trend. By contrast, Cx40 maintained an abundant level until >=20 months of age (>=20 months vs 28 days, p<0.05 for number and total connexin signal area). These patterns were associated with changes in endothelial cell morphology. Double-label analysis showed that the extent of co-localization of connexins to the same gap junctional spot was age-dependent [>70% at birth and 28 days old; <70% at later stages (p<0.05)]. We conclude that expression of the three connexins in aortic endothelium is age-related, implying specific intercellular communication requirements during different stages after birth.

(J Histochem Cytochem 48:1377–1389, 2000)

Key Words: gap junction, connexin, endothelial cells, age


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Histochem. Cytochem.Home page
C. J.-Y. Hou, C.-H. Tsai, C.-H. Su, Y.-J. Wu, S.-J. Chen, J.-J. Chiu, M.-S. Shiao, and H.-I Yeh
Diabetes Reduces Aortic Endothelial Gap Junctions in ApoE-deficient Mice: Simvastatin Exacerbates the Reduction
J. Histochem. Cytochem., August 1, 2008; 56(8): 745 - 752.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Cardiovasc ResHome page
H.-H. Wang, C.-I Kung, Y.-Y. Tseng, Y.-C. Lin, C.-H. Chen, C.-H. Tsai, and H.-I Yeh
Activation of endothelial cells to pathological status by down-regulation of connexin43
Cardiovasc Res, August 1, 2008; 79(3): 509 - 518.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
K. Boengler, I. Konietzka, A. Buechert, Y. Heinen, D. Garcia-Dorado, G. Heusch, and R. Schulz
Loss of ischemic preconditioning's cardioprotection in aged mouse hearts is associated with reduced gap junctional and mitochondrial levels of connexin 43
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, April 1, 2007; 292(4): H1764 - H1769.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.Home page
X. Zhang, X. Chen, D. Wu, W. Liu, J. Wang, Z. Feng, G. Cai, B. Fu, Q. Hong, and J. Du
Downregulation of Connexin 43 Expression by High Glucose Induces Senescence in Glomerular Mesangial Cells
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., June 1, 2006; 17(6): 1532 - 1542.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
E. E. Ebong, S. Kim, and N. DePaola
Flow regulates intercellular communication in HAEC by assembling functional Cx40 and Cx37 gap junctional channels
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2006; 290(5): H2015 - H2023.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
S. E Bearden, G. W Payne, A. Chisty, and S. S Segal
Arteriolar network architecture and vasomotor function with ageing in mouse gluteus maximus muscle
J. Physiol., December 1, 2004; 561(2): 535 - 545.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Histochem. Cytochem.Home page
P. Saitongdee, D. L. Becker, P. Milner, G. E. Knight, and G. Burnstock
Levels of Gap Junction Proteins in Coronary Arterioles and Aorta of Hamsters Exposed to the Cold and During Hibernation and Arousal
J. Histochem. Cytochem., May 1, 2004; 52(5): 603 - 616.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
H.-I Yeh, C.-S. Lu, Y.-J. Wu, C.-C. Chen, R.-C. Hong, Y.-S. Ko, M.-S. Shiao, N. J. Severs, and C.-H. Tsai
Reduced Expression of Endothelial Connexin37 and Connexin40 in Hyperlipidemic Mice: Recovery of Connexin37 After 7-Day Simvastatin Treatment
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., August 1, 2003; 23(8): 1391 - 1397.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Cell Sci.Home page
A. M. Simon and A. R. McWhorter
Decreased intercellular dye-transfer and downregulation of non-ablated connexins in aortic endothelium deficient in connexin37 or connexin40
J. Cell Sci., June 1, 2003; 116(11): 2223 - 2236.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Histochem. Cytochem.Home page
H.-I. Yeh, Y.-J. Lai, Y.-N. Lee, Y.-J. Chen, Y.-C. Chen, C.-C. Chen, S.-A. Chen, C.-I. Lin, and C.-H. Tsai
Differential Expression of Connexin43 Gap Junctions in Cardiomyocytes Isolated from Canine Thoracic Veins
J. Histochem. Cytochem., February 1, 2003; 51(2): 259 - 266.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
N. M. Rummery, H. Hickey, G. McGurk, and C. E. Hill
Connexin37 Is the Major Connexin Expressed in the Media of Caudal Artery
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., September 1, 2002; 22(9): 1427 - 1432.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 DiabetesHome page
T. Sato, R. Haimovici, R. Kao, A.-F. Li, and S. Roy
Downregulation of Connexin 43 Expression by High Glucose Reduces Gap Junction Activity in Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Diabetes, May 1, 2002; 51(5): 1565 - 1571.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
B. R. Kwak, F. Mulhaupt, N. Veillard, D. B. Gros, and F. Mach
Altered Pattern of Vascular Connexin Expression in Atherosclerotic Plaques
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., February 1, 2002; 22(2): 225 - 230.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]



Guidelines | Subscriptions | About | exPRESS - Current - Archive | Business Information | Contact
The Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry is owned, published, and licensed by The Histochemical Society © 2000