摘 要: 间隙连接蛋白43 (connexin43, Cx43)是间隙连接蛋白家族的成员之一, 在多种组织和细胞类型上广泛表达, 参与体内平衡、胚胎发育、细胞分化及生长等生理活动。现以斑马鱼(Danio rerio)和金鱼(Carassius auratus)为材料, 运用RT-PCR方法检测了Cx43基因在其组织和胚胎发育中的表达模式。结果显示: 在斑马鱼的组织中, Cx43基因在心脏中的表达量最高, 而在肾脏和卵巢的表达量较低; 在不同发育时期的胚胎中, Cx43基因在体色素期和出膜期中的表达量较高, 而在胚胎发育早期的表达量相对较低。在金鱼组织中, Cx43基因在心脏中的表达量较高, 而在鱼鳍和眼睛的表达量较低; 在不同发育时期的胚胎中, Cx43基因表达模式基本上与斑马鱼的12个时期相一致。研究表明, Cx43基因在鱼类不同组织和不同胚胎发育时期中可能行使不同的功能, 但其具体的功能和机制还有待进一步研究。

Abstract: Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a member of the gap junction protein family, which is widely expressed in a variety of tissues and cell types and is involved in physiological activities such as homeostasis, embryonic development, cell differentiation and growth. Here, RT-PCR technology was used to detect and analyze the tissue-specific and temporal expression patterns of Cx43 gene in zebrafish and goldfish. In zebrafish tissues, the expression level of Cx43 gene was the highest in heart and relatively low in kidneys and ovaries; in different stages of embryonic development, Cx43 gene was expressed with the highest level in the body pigmentation and the hatching larvae and with a low level in the early stage. While in goldfish tissues, the expression level of Cx43 gene was the highest in the heart and relatively low in fins and eyes; in different stages of embryonic development, the expression pattern of Cx43 gene was substantially consistent with the zebrafish in the 12 stages. The function of Cx43 gene may vary during embryonic development stages in fish as well as in different tissues. However, the exact mechanism remains to be further explored.