GAP JUNCTION WIRING - A NEW PRINCIPLE IN CELL-TO-CELL COMMUNICATION IN THE NERVOUS-SYSTEM

This review gives an updated excerpt of recent advances in our underst anding of brain gap junctions. It starts with a brief description of t he principle molecular composition of gap junctions before specific is sues concerning brain tissues are addressed. The following questions a nd matters are subjected to a detailed analysis: First, why are there so many gap junctions in the brain? Second, what is the functional sig nificance of the cellular diversity of brain gap junctions? Third, how do astrocytic gap junctions mediate intercellular volume transmission (IVT), and what does IVT mean for glial-neuronal interaction? Fourth, how frequent are interneuronal gap junctions; and what is their funct ional significance in brain development and in interrelated chemical-e lectrotonic transmission at mixed synapses. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.