GAP-JUNCTIONS FORMED OF CONNEXIN43 ARE FOUND BETWEEN SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS OF HUMAN CORPUS CAVERNOSUM
GAP-JUNCTIONS FORMED OF CONNEXIN43 ARE FOUND BETWEEN SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS OF HUMAN CORPUS CAVERNOSUM
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DOI：
10.1016/s0022-5347(17)36455-8
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发表时间：
1993-06-01
影响因子：
6.6
通讯作者：
SPRAY, DC
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
DECARVALHO, ACC;ROY, C;SPRAY, DC
尽管有稀疏的自主神经支配，阴茎海绵体的平滑肌细胞仍然同步地松弛和收缩，以实现阴茎勃起和松弛。与其他平滑肌细胞类型一样，小体中的兴奋过程可能通过间隙连接传播，以允许载流离子和第二信使分子从细胞扩散到细胞。使用分子和免疫细胞化学技术，我们已经确定了人的阴茎海绵体平滑肌细胞在原位和培养之间的缝隙连接。北方分析表明，海绵体平滑肌细胞表达差距连接蛋白connexin43，但不表达connexin26 mRNA。免疫印迹显示存在连接蛋白43亚型，而连接蛋白32未检测到。在培养细胞的免疫细胞化学研究确定了突出的连接蛋白43免疫反应斑点之间的细胞，以及在细胞质。此外，缝隙连接膜原位和在文化中标记的抗连接蛋白43抗体使用免疫金技术在薄切片。我们的结论是，间隙连接的存在和分布在这个稀疏神经支配的组织可能提供了一个重要的机制，平滑肌细胞之间的细胞间通讯，从而发挥了重要的作用，协调组织的收缩和舒张。
Despite sparse autonomic innervation, the smooth muscle cells of the corpus cavernosum re ax and contract synchronously to achieve penile erection and flaccidity. As with other smooth muscle cell types, the excitation process in the corpora is presumably propagated through gap junctions to allow the diffusion of current-carrying ions and second messenger molecules from cell to cell. Using both molecular and immunocytochemical techniques, we have identified gap junctions between human corporal smooth muscle cells in situ and in culture. Northern analyses demonstrated that corporal smooth muscle cells express the gap junction protein connexin43, but not connexin26 mRNA. Immunoblots showed the presence of connexin43 isoforms, whereas connexin32 was not detected. Immunocytochemical studies in cultured cells identified prominent connexin43 immunoreactive puncta between cells, as well as within the cytoplasm. In addition, gap junction membranes both in situ and in culture were labelled in thin section by anti-connexin43 antibodies using the immunogold technique. We conclude that the presence and distribution of gap junctions in this sparsely innervated tissue may provide an important mechanism of intercellular communication among the smooth muscle cells, and thus play a major role in coordinating tissue contraction and relaxation.