Gap Junction Protein Connexin-43 in a Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion

The study aimed at investigating the dynamics of the distribution and localization of the gap junction protein connexin-43 (Cx43) in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells at different stages of postnatal ontogenesis to assess morphological signs of age-related changes in intercellular interactions. The work was performed on Wistar rats aged 4 and 18 months using immunohistochemical methods. Glial cells were detected using antibodies to glutamine synthetase, and Iba-1 marker was used for macrophages. It has been established that connexin-43-containing structures are identified predominantly in satellite glial cells of young and aging animals. Sensory neurons, as well as DRG macrophages, of the examined age groups do not contain connexin-43. When analyzing age-related changes in intercellular contacts in the DRG of rats, it was found that areas enriched with connexin-43, corresponding to plaques of protein channels that ensure metabolic interaction of satellite glial cells in the dorsal root ganglia, became more numerous with age. This fact may indicate activation of interaction between glial cells in the sensory ganglia during rat aging.