Connexin43 and Bergmann glial gap junctions in cerebellar function

Frontiers in Neuroscience

KazuhikoYamaguchi¹  Shigeyoshi Itohara¹  Tetsuya Tatsukawa¹  Mika Tanaka¹  Martin Theis²  Klaus Willecke² 

[1] RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI);University of Bonn;

关键词: cerebellar long-term depression;    conditional knockout mouse;    connexin43;    Cre transgenic mouse;    eyeblink conditioning;    gap junction;   

DOI  :  10.3389/neuro.01.038.2008

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Connexin43 (Cx43), a major component of astrocytic gap junctions, is abundantly expressed in Bergmann glial cells (BGCs) in the cerebellum, but the function of Cx43 in BGCs is largely unknown. BGCs are specialized astrocytes closely associated with Purkinje cells. Here, we review our recent studies of the role of Cx43 in gap junctional coupling between BGCs and in cerebellar function. We generated Cx43 conditional knockout mice with an S100b-Cre transgenic line (Cx43fl/fl:S100b-Cre), in which there was a significant postnatal loss of Cx43 in BGCs and cerebellar astrocytes. Gap junctional coupling between BGCs measured by dye coupling was virtually abolished in Cx43fl/fl:S100b-Cre mice. Electrophysiologic and behavioral analyses suggested that Cx43-mediated gap junctions and Cx43 hemichannels in BGCs are not necessary for the neuron-glia interactions required for cerebellum-dependent motor coordination and motor learning. These findings raise questions regarding the regional differences in the impact of the loss of Cx43 in the brain.

【 授权许可】

Unknown