Role of gap junctions in fluid secretion of lacrimal glands. 2002

Benjamin Walcott, and Leon C Moore, and Aija Birzgalis, and Nidia Claros, and Virginijus Valiunas, and Thomas Ott, and Klaus Willecke, and Peter R Brink
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. bwalcott@ms.cc.sunysb.edu

In glands such as the liver and pancreas, gap junctions containing connexin 26 and 32 (Cx26 and Cx32, respectively) couple the secretory cells. Uncoupling these junctions compromises the secretory function of these glands. Lacrimal glands also contain extensive arrays of gap junctions consisting of Cx26 and Cx32. We wanted to determine the role of these junctions in fluid secretion. In Cx32-deficient mice, immunocytochemistry showed that, in the male lacrimal gland, the remaining Cx26 was found evenly distributed in the membrane whereas there was little in the membranes of female glands. Western blot analysis of Cx26 showed that female Cx32-deficient mice expressed Cx26. Patch-clamp analyses of acinar cell coupling showed that the cell pairs from male glands were coupled whereas those from female glands were not. Stimulated fluid production by the glands from Cx32-deficient mice was abnormally low in female glands compared with controls at low topical doses of carbachol. The protein secretory response to different doses of carbachol was the same in all animals. These data suggest that gap junctions are essential for optimal fluid secretion in lacrimal glands.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007765 Lacrimal Apparatus The tear-forming and tear-conducting system which includes the lacrimal glands, eyelid margins, conjunctival sac, and the tear drainage system. Lacrimal Gland,Nasolacrimal Apparatus,Conjunctival Sacs,Lacrimal Ducts,Lacrimal Punctum,Lateral Canthus,Medial Canthus,Apparatus, Lacrimal,Apparatus, Nasolacrimal,Canthus, Lateral,Canthus, Medial,Conjunctival Sac,Duct, Lacrimal,Gland, Lacrimal,Lacrimal Duct,Lacrimal Glands,Lacrimal Punctums,Punctum, Lacrimal,Sac, Conjunctival
D008297 Male Males
D008810 Mice, Inbred C57BL One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases. Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D008856 Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy of specimens stained with fluorescent dye (usually fluorescein isothiocyanate) or of naturally fluorescent materials, which emit light when exposed to ultraviolet or blue light. Immunofluorescence microscopy utilizes antibodies that are labeled with fluorescent dye. Fluorescence Microscopy,Immunofluorescence Microscopy,Microscopy, Immunofluorescence,Fluorescence Microscopies,Immunofluorescence Microscopies,Microscopies, Fluorescence,Microscopies, Immunofluorescence
D002217 Carbachol A slowly hydrolyzed CHOLINERGIC AGONIST that acts at both MUSCARINIC RECEPTORS and NICOTINIC RECEPTORS. Carbamylcholine,Carbacholine,Carbamann,Carbamoylcholine,Carbastat,Carbocholine,Carboptic,Doryl,Isopto Carbachol,Jestryl,Miostat,Carbachol, Isopto
D002478 Cells, Cultured Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others. Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D005260 Female Females
D000072259 Connexin 26 A gap junction protein encoded by the Gap Junction Beta 2 or GJB2 gene. In the cochlea and epidermis, its hexamers form channels between cells that open to allow cell-to-cell diffusion of small molecules as well as recycling of potassium. Mutations in Connexin 26 are associated with congenital SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS. Connexin Cx26,Connexin beta-2,Gap Junction beta-2 protein,beta2 Connexin,26, Connexin,Connexin beta 2,Connexin, beta2,Cx26, Connexin,Gap Junction beta 2 protein,beta-2, Connexin
D000097002 Gap Junction beta-1 Protein A GAP JUNCTION beta subunit containing four transmembrane domains expressed in myelinating SCHWANN CELLS and is localized to peripheral MYELIN (e.g., noncompact myelin in the paranode and Schmitt-Lanterman incisures). Mutations in the human gene GJB1 are associated with X-linked CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH DISEASE type 1 (CMT1X). Connexin 32,Connexin 32 Protein,Cx32 Protein,GJB1 Protein,Gap Junction B1,Gap Junction beta1 Protein,Gap Junction beta 1 Protein,Protein, Connexin 32,Protein, Cx32,Protein, GJB1
D000704 Analysis of Variance A statistical technique that isolates and assesses the contributions of categorical independent variables to variation in the mean of a continuous dependent variable. ANOVA,Analysis, Variance,Variance Analysis,Analyses, Variance,Variance Analyses

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