Macrophage-related demyelination in peripheral nerves of mice deficient in the gap junction protein connexin 32

Abstract

Mice deficient in the gap junction protein connexin 32 (Cx32) develop a slowly progressing demyelinating neuropathy, with enlarged periaxonal collars, abnormal non-compacted myelin domains and axonal sprouts. These mice serve as a model for the X-linked form of inherited demyelinating neuropathies in humans. Based on our previous findings that macrophages are involved in demyelination in other myelin mutants (i.e. mice heterozygously deficient in P0), we considered the possibility that macrophages might be also mediators of demyelination in Cx32-deficient mice. Indeed, we detected an age-related increase in the number of macrophages in demyelinating nerves of Cx32-deficient mice. In addition, immunoelectron microscopy revealed macrophages in an apposition to degenerating myelin reminiscent of a macrophage-mediated demyelinating neuropathy. We conclude that involvement of macrophages might be a widespread phenomenon in genetically-determined demyelination.