Gap junctions were first characterized by electron microscopy as regionally specialized structures on plasma membranes of contacting adherent cells. These structures were shown to consist of cell-to-cell channels. Proteins, called connexins, purified from fractions of enriched gap junctions from different tissues differ. The connexins are designated by their molecular mass.
The pattern of expression of these Cx indicates that gap junctional proteins may be involved in the control of follicular growth and atresia in cows was shown by Johnson et al.(1999) .
Expression regulated by
Comment
Ovarian localization
Granulosa, blood vessels
Comment
Cx32 was detected in the blood vessels of ovarian stroma and in the CL as was determined by Grazul-Bilska et al. (1998)
Follicle stages
Antral
Comment
Cx32 was not present in healthy follicles but was present in granulosa cells of atretic antral, and especially small antral follicles as was shown by Johnson et al. (1999)
Phenotypes
Mutations
2 mutations
Species: human
Mutation name: None
type: None fertility: None Comment:Bergoffen et al. (1993) found a C-to-T transition in codon 142 of the CX32 gene, resulting in substitution of tryptophan for arginine.
Species: human
Mutation name: None
type: None fertility: None Comment:Bergoffen et al. (1993) found a G-to-A transition in codon 172 of the CX32 gene, resulting in substitution of serine for proline.