Gap Junctions in the Nervous System: Probing Functional Connections Using New Imaging Approaches
Gap junctions are channels that physically connect adjacent cells, mediating the rapid exchange of small molecules, and playing an essential role in a wide range of physiological processes in nearly every system in the body, including the nervous system. Thus, altered function of gap junctions has b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2018.00320/full |
| _version_ | 1811193876241711104 |
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| author | Ao Dong Ao Dong Ao Dong Simin Liu Simin Liu Yulong Li Yulong Li Yulong Li |
| author_facet | Ao Dong Ao Dong Ao Dong Simin Liu Simin Liu Yulong Li Yulong Li Yulong Li |
| author_sort | Ao Dong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gap junctions are channels that physically connect adjacent cells, mediating the rapid exchange of small molecules, and playing an essential role in a wide range of physiological processes in nearly every system in the body, including the nervous system. Thus, altered function of gap junctions has been linked with a plethora of diseases and pathological conditions. Being able to measure and characterize the distribution, function, and regulation of gap junctions in intact tissue is therefore essential for understanding the physiological and pathophysiological roles that gap junctions play. In recent decades, several robust in vitro and in vivo methods have been developed for detecting and characterizing gap junctions. Here, we review the currently available methods with respect to invasiveness, signal-to-noise ratio, temporal resolution and others, highlighting the recently developed chemical tracers and hybrid imaging systems that use novel chemical compounds and/or genetically encoded enzymes, transporters, channels, and fluorescent proteins in order to map gap junctions. Finally, we discuss possible avenues for further improving existing techniques in order to achieve highly sensitive, cell type-specific, non-invasive measures of in vivo gap junction function with high throughput and high spatiotemporal resolution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:16:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3edc99284f57461092d082159268a453 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:16:41Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-3edc99284f57461092d082159268a4532022-12-22T03:55:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022018-09-011210.3389/fncel.2018.00320411658Gap Junctions in the Nervous System: Probing Functional Connections Using New Imaging ApproachesAo Dong0Ao Dong1Ao Dong2Simin Liu3Simin Liu4Yulong Li5Yulong Li6Yulong Li7State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, ChinaPKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, ChinaPeking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, ChinaPKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, ChinaPKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, ChinaPeking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, ChinaGap junctions are channels that physically connect adjacent cells, mediating the rapid exchange of small molecules, and playing an essential role in a wide range of physiological processes in nearly every system in the body, including the nervous system. Thus, altered function of gap junctions has been linked with a plethora of diseases and pathological conditions. Being able to measure and characterize the distribution, function, and regulation of gap junctions in intact tissue is therefore essential for understanding the physiological and pathophysiological roles that gap junctions play. In recent decades, several robust in vitro and in vivo methods have been developed for detecting and characterizing gap junctions. Here, we review the currently available methods with respect to invasiveness, signal-to-noise ratio, temporal resolution and others, highlighting the recently developed chemical tracers and hybrid imaging systems that use novel chemical compounds and/or genetically encoded enzymes, transporters, channels, and fluorescent proteins in order to map gap junctions. Finally, we discuss possible avenues for further improving existing techniques in order to achieve highly sensitive, cell type-specific, non-invasive measures of in vivo gap junction function with high throughput and high spatiotemporal resolution.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2018.00320/fullgap junctionelectrical synapsefluorescence imaginggenetically encoded methodsnervous system |
| spellingShingle | Ao Dong Ao Dong Ao Dong Simin Liu Simin Liu Yulong Li Yulong Li Yulong Li Gap Junctions in the Nervous System: Probing Functional Connections Using New Imaging Approaches Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience gap junction electrical synapse fluorescence imaging genetically encoded methods nervous system |
| title | Gap Junctions in the Nervous System: Probing Functional Connections Using New Imaging Approaches |
| title_full | Gap Junctions in the Nervous System: Probing Functional Connections Using New Imaging Approaches |
| title_fullStr | Gap Junctions in the Nervous System: Probing Functional Connections Using New Imaging Approaches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gap Junctions in the Nervous System: Probing Functional Connections Using New Imaging Approaches |
| title_short | Gap Junctions in the Nervous System: Probing Functional Connections Using New Imaging Approaches |
| title_sort | gap junctions in the nervous system probing functional connections using new imaging approaches |
| topic | gap junction electrical synapse fluorescence imaging genetically encoded methods nervous system |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2018.00320/full |
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