Effects of hypobaric hypoxia on the intercellular coupling of glomus cells.

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to a hypobaric medium induces profound effects on the carotid body, as reported in many studies. Among these we remark hyperplasia and hypertrophy of glomus cells, increased transmitter secretion and an increase in connexin Cx43 linking coupled glomus cells (Poncet et ai 1996; Wang and Bisgard, 2002; Chen et al 2002). Thus, the number of gap junctions between glomus cells appeared to be more numerous in animals chronically exposed to hypobaric conditions.