Correlation of expression of connexin 43 and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the expression of connexin 43 and cardiomyocytes hypertrophy. METHODS: Cardiomyocytes were isolated from newborn Wistar rats. Norepinephrine (NE) or phenylephrine (PE) were added into the media to induce myocyte hypertrophy. Immunohistochemistry methods were used to identify the expression of connexin 43, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cycline dependent kinases (cdc-2). The amount of connexin 43 expression was detected by computer imaging analysis system MIPS. RESULTS: In the groups which had PE or NE added, the myocytes expressed lower connexin 43 and higher PCNA levels than the control group's. But the expression of cdc-2 was unchanged. CONCLUSION: The reduced expression of connexin 43 was related to its entrance into S phase of the cell cycle. This may explain the mechanism of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.