Domain-specific distribution of gap junctions defines cellular coupling to establish a vascular relay in the retina.

ABSTRACT: In the retina, diverse functions of neuronal gap junctions (GJs) have been established. However, the distribution and function of vascular GJs are less clear. Here in the mouse retina whole mounts, we combined structural immunohistochemical analysis and a functional assessment of cellular coupling with a GJ-permeable tracer Neurobiotin to determine distribution patterns of three major vascular connexins. We found that Cx43 was expressed in punctate fashion on astroglia, surrounding all types of blood vessels and in continuous string-like structures along endothelial cell contacts in specialized regions of the vascular tree. Specifically, these Cx43-positive strings originated at the finest capillaries and extended toward the feeding artery. As this structural arrangement promoted strong an

SUBMITTER: Ivanova E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6721971 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature