Connexin-43 in the Cells of the Developing Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion

The present study examined the distribution of the gap junction protein connexin-43 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells at different stages of the rat prenatal development. Using immunohistochemical methods, we established that the first connexin-43-containing structures are identified in the developing DRG precursor cells starting from the 13th day of prenatal development. At the later stages of development, connexin-43 is present only in satellite glial cells. Sensory neurons do not contain protein. It was shown for the first time that connexin-43 is expressed in the boundary cap cells of the rat spinal cord dorsal root, starting from the 14th day of embryonic development until birth. This fact may indicate the participation of connexin-43 in the processes of establishing connections between the central and peripheral nervous systems during development.