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Gap Junctions in the Composition of Neurogliovascular Ensembles in Rat Cortical Barrel Columns

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Abstract

Complex morphological study of gap junctions (GJs) in the blood–brain barrier in the rat cortical barrel columns using light and transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry showed that astrocytes united by GJs in a single network can act as the main mediator between neurons and the vascular bed, forming a complex of neurogliovascular ensembles. The possibility of using such complexes to determine the functional organization of cortical columns is discussed.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was carried out with support from the program of governmental assignment of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation no. 6.6047.2017/8.9 (basic part).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Morphology, Ivanovsky Academy of Biology and Biotechnology of the Southern Federal University, 344090, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

    E. Yu. Kirichenko, A. K. Logvinov & S. Yu. Filippova

  2. Department of Experimental Pathomorphology and Electron Microscopy of the Rostov Regional Pathologo-Anatomical Bureau, 344090, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

    P. E. Povilaytite & Yu. G. Kirichenko

Authors
  1. E. Yu. Kirichenko
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  2. P. E. Povilaytite
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  3. A. K. Logvinov
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  4. Yu. G. Kirichenko
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  5. S. Yu. Filippova
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Yu. Kirichenko.

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Сonflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement on the welfare of animals. The accommodation of animals and experimental studies were carried out in accordance with the protocol approved by the Bioethics Commission of Southern Federal University in April 18, 2012.

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Translated by P. Kuchina

Abbreviations: BBB—blood–brain barrier, IHC—immunohistochemistry, NGVE—neurogliovascular ensemble, GJ—gap junction, EM–electron microscopy.

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Kirichenko, E.Y., Povilaytite, P.E., Logvinov, A.K. et al. Gap Junctions in the Composition of Neurogliovascular Ensembles in Rat Cortical Barrel Columns. Cell Tiss. Biol. 12, 477–483 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1990519X18060044

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