Expression of Cx genes in liver and stomach of different embryonic stages

AIM To explore the relationship between the rules of Cx gene expression and cellular differ-entiation in organs of different embryonic stages. METHODS A series of Cx gene serving as molecular probes and the Northern blot hybry-dization were employed to study the Cx gene ex-pression. RESULTS Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx46 did not express while other Cx genes expressed in the embryon-ic liver and stomach. The Cx gene expression in the liver and stomach showed different state at different embryonic stages. The Cx gene expression had organic diversity. The expression of Cx26 gene was overlapping in the above organs. Cx43 did not express in the human liver after birth, but it expressed in the embryonic stage. CONCLUSION The expression state of Cx genes is concordant with cellular differentiation. It might be a key candidate gene to regulate some differentiational events associated with cellular differentiation, proliferation, and morphogenesis in the early embryo.