Gap junction-mediated bidirectional signaling between human fetal hippocampal neurons and astrocytes

Renato Rozental, Adriana F. Andrade-Rozental, Xin Zheng, Marcia Urban, David C. Spray, Fung Chow Chiu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gap junctions are clusters of intercellular channels that connect the interiors of coupled cells. In the brain, gap junctions function as electrotonic synapses between neurons and as pathways for the exchange of metabolites and second-messenger molecules between glial cells. Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell type coupled by gap junctions, are intimately involved in the active control of neuronal activity including synaptic transmission and plasticity. Previous studies have suggested that astrocytic-neuronal signaling may involve gap junction-mediated intercellular connections; this issue remains unresolved. In this study, we demonstrate that second-trimester human fetal hippocampal neurons and astrocytes in culture are coupled by gap junctions bidirectionally; we show that human fetal neurons and astrocytes express both the same and different connexin subtypes. The formation of functional homotypic and heterotypic gap junction channels between neurons and astrocytes may add versatility to the signaling between these cell types during human hippocampal ontogeny; disruption of such signaling may contribute to CNS dysfunction during pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)420-431
Number of pages12
JournalDevelopmental Neuroscience
Volume23
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Connexin 36
  • Connexin 43
  • Gap junctions
  • Human fetal hippocampus
  • Neuron-to-astrocyte signaling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Developmental Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gap junction-mediated bidirectional signaling between human fetal hippocampal neurons and astrocytes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this