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. 2018 Apr 11;11:118. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00118

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Copyright © 2018 Mayorquin, Rodriguez, Sutachan and Albarracín.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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Schematic representation of connexins (Cxs), hemichannels (HCs) and gap junctions (GJs) in cell membranes. HCs are transmembrane proteins composed of six connexin subunits that allow flow of several molecules and gliotransmitters from astrocyte to the extracellular space. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), glutamate, D-serine and prostaglandin (PG) E-2 can interact with their receptors and induce signaling cascades. Docking between two HCs or connexins forms GJ channels that allow the cell to cell communication mediated by ATP, inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3) and Ca²⁺. HCs and GJs activity modulate neuronal synaptic activity and plasticity.