lucifer-yellow and Cerebral-Infarction

Gap junctions are highly conductive channels that allow the direct transfer of intracellular messengers such as Ca2+ and inositol triphosphate (IP3) between interconnected cells. In brain, astrocytes are coupled extensively by gap junctions. We found here that gap junctions among astrocytes in acutely prepared brain slices as well as in culture remained open during ischemic conditions. Uncoupling first occurred after the terminal loss of plasma membrane integrity. Gap junctions therefore may link ischemic astrocytes in an evolving infarct with the surroundings. The free exchange of intracellular messengers between dying and potentially viable astrocytes might contribute to secondary expansion of ischemic lesions.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Astrocytes; Brain Ischemia; Calcium; Cell Membrane; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cerebral Cortex; Cerebral Infarction; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Fluorescent Dyes; Gap Junctions; Hippocampus; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ionophores; Isoquinolines; Male; Organ Culture Techniques; Phosphorylation; Protons; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Second Messenger Systems; Thapsigargin