TY - JOUR A2 - van Groen, Thomas AU - Nakase, Taizen AU - Maeda, Tetsuya AU - Yoshida, Yasuji AU - Nagata, Ken PY - 2009 DA - 2009/09/23 TI - Ischemia Alters the Expression of Connexins in the Aged Human Brain SP - 147946 VL - 2009 AB - Although the function of astrocytic gap junctions under ischemia is still under debate, increased expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) has been observed in ischemic brain lesions, suggesting that astrocytic gap junctions could provide neuronal protection against ischemic insult. Moreover, different connexin subtypes may play different roles in pathological conditions. We used immunohistochemical analysis to investigate alterations in the expression of connexin subtypes in human stroke brains. Seven samples, sectioned after brain embolic stroke, were used for the analysis. Data, evaluated semiquantitatively by computer-assisted densitometry, was compared between the intact hemisphere and ischemic lesions. The results showed that the coexpression of Cx32 and Cx45 with neuronal markers was significantly increased in ischemic lesions. Cx43 expression was significantly increased in the colocalization with astrocytes and relatively increased in the colocalization with neuronal marker in ischemic lesions. Therefore, Cx32, Cx43, and Cx45 may respond differently to ischemic insult in terms of neuroprotection. SN - 2314-6133 UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/2009/147946 DO - 10.1155/2009/147946 JF - Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology PB - Hindawi Publishing Corporation KW - ER -