COMPARISON OF GAP JUNCTION EXPRESSION IN THE ADRENAL-GLAND

The presence of alpha(1) (Cx43) gap junction protein was demonstrated in rat, mouse, guinea pig, and bovine adrenal glands with immunocytoch emical techniques. The presence of six other connexin species was not detected in the adrenal glands studied. The,sap junction stain within the adrenal cortex was punctate and located at sites of cell-cell cont act. While little gap junction, alpha(1), staining was detected at sit es of cell contact in the zona glomerulosa (ZG), the zona fasciculata (ZF) and zona reticularis (ZR) had intense staining at cell contacts i n all rodent species studied. In the bovine adrenal, ZG cells were con nected by large gap junctions as were the cells of the ZF and ZR. The variations in alpha(1) distribution within the adrenal cortex may corr espond with the different division rates and hormone function within t he adrenal gland as well as species differences between rodent and bov ine adrenal gland. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.