Figure 2.
mRNA expression of Cx and Panx subtypes in rat CFs. A) qPCR revealed that the rank order of mRNA abundance of the 3 most highly expressed Cx isoforms is: Cx43>Cx45>Cx40. Panx1 mRNA expression was detected at 1/5 the relative abundance of Cx43. B) Immunofluorescence microscopy in rat CFs showed that while Cx43 is expressed between adjacent cells to mediate cellular coupling, a substantial population of Cx43-containing hemichannels are exposed to the extracellular space (arrows; green, Cx43; blue, DAPI).