Cell to cell interaction within mouse taste buds

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Connexins, membrane proteins form two types of corridors for small molecules (molar mass <～1000). One is gap junctions between cells, and another is hemichannels between inside and outside the cell. I show that taste bud cells expressed a few connexin subtypes, and that there are few dye-coupling among taste bud cells. These results suggest that connexins play an important role as hemichannels rather than gap junctions. The role of hemichannels is discussed.