Role of connexin 43 in the maintenance of spontaneous activity in the guinea pig prostate gland.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

To investigate the role of connexin 43 in the maintenance of spontaneous activity in prostate tissue from young and old guinea pigs.

Experimental approach

Conventional intracellular microelectrode and tension recording techniques, coupled with Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry for connexin 43 (CX43) were used. The effects of three gap junction uncouplers, 18β glycyrrhetinic acid (10 µM, 40 µM), carbenoxolone (10 µM, 50 µM) and octanol (0.5 mM, 1 mM), were studied in cells displaying slow wave activity and on spontaneously contracting tissue from prostate glands of young (2-5 months) and old (9-16 months) guinea pigs.

Key results

18β Glycyrrhetinic acid (40 µM), carbenoxolone (50 µM) or octanol (0.5 mM) abolished slow wave activity i

SUBMITTER: Dey A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3010576 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature