Abstract
Expression of two connexins connexin40 (Cx40) and connexin43 (Cx43) has been studied in ventricular myocytes from normal and hypertensive rats. These studies revealed coexpression of Cx40 and Cx43 in ventricular myocytes, with a preferential expression of Cx40 in the endothelial layers of the heart blood vessels, in the conductive tissue of the ventricle and in the myocyte layers close to the ventricular cavities. Under hypertensive condition (i.e. spontaneous hypertensive rats or transgenic hypertensive rats), we measured a 3.2 fold increase in Cx40 expression compared to control rats. Furthermore, we detected a 3.3 decrease in Cx43 protein level in transgenic rats. The coexpression of Cx40 and Cx43, their spatial distribution and the increased amount of Cx40 in hypertrophie heart suggest that Cx40 may be involved in mediating fast conduction or be associated with special metabolic functions in rat heart under normal and pathological condition.
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