Analysis of connexin (Cx36 and Cx45) expression in the carotid body, adrenal medulla and enteric neurons of both mouse and rat

Cx36 and Cx45 are considered the main connexins expressed in neuronal cells of central nervous system (Belluardo N. et al. Brain Res. 2000)), but at present no complete data are available on their expression in the neurons of crest-derived neuroendocrine organ, such as the adrenal medulla, the carotid body and the enteric nervous system. Therefore the present study was undertaken to evaluate using immunohistochemistry and western blotting procedures, both in rat and mouse, whether Cx36 and Cx45 were expressed in neuronal cells of the carotid body, adrenal medulla and myenteric plexus at ileum and colon level. In the carotid body of both mouse and rat only Cx45 was found expressed as diffuse…