Human Amniotic Fluid Cells Form Functional Gap Junctions with Cortical Cells

Figure 5

AF cells selectively establish intercellular communication with cortical astrocytes. (a)-(b) Cocultures of AF cells with cortical cells. Immunostaining showed abundant levels of Cx43 protein (green) at the junction between AF cells and cortical astrocytes (GFAP (red); see arrowheads), whereas there was only a limited amount of staining detected at the boundary with neurons (arrows). Scale bar: 10 μm. (c)–(e) AF cells were preloaded with DiI (red) and calcein (green) and plated as a single cell suspension on cortical cultures to examine metabolic coupling. AF cells readily established functional gap junctional communication with astrocytes within 4 hours, as indicated by calcein transfer, a phenomenon not observed between AF cells and neurons. Scale bar: 10 μm.