Abstract—

Numerous data obtained in the last 20 years indicate that all parts of the mature central nervous system, from the retina and olfactory bulb to the spinal cord and brain, contain cells connected by gap junctions (GJs). The morphological basis of the GJs is a group of joined membrane hemichannels called connexons, the subunit of each connexon is the protein connexin. In the central nervous system, connexins show specificity and certain types of them are expressed either in neurons or in glial cells. Connexins and GJs of neurons, combining certain types of inhibitory hippocampal and neocortical neuronal ensembles, provide synchronization of local impulse and rhythmic activity, thalamocortical conduction, control of excitatory connections, which reflects their important role in the processes of perception, concentration of attention and consolidation of memory, both on the cellular and at the system level. Connexins of glial cells are ubiquitously expressed in the brain, and the GJs formed by them provide molecular signaling and metabolic cooperation and play a certain role in the processes of neuronal migration during brain development, myelination, tissue homeostasis, and apoptosis. At the same time, mutations in the genes of glial connexins, as well as a deficiency of these proteins, are associated with such diseases as congenital neuropathies, hearing loss, skin diseases, and brain tumors. This review summarizes the existing data of numerous molecular, electrophysiological, pharmacological, and morphological studies aimed at progress in the study of the physiological and pathophysiological significance of glial and neuronal connexins and GJs for the central nervous system.

中文翻译：

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哺乳动物中枢神经系统间隙连接及其组成连接蛋白的结构和功能

摘要——

过去 20 年获得的大量数据表明，成熟的中枢神经系统的所有部分，从视网膜和嗅球到脊髓和大脑，都包含通过间隙连接 (GJ) 连接的细胞。GJs的形态学基础是一组称为连接子的连接膜半通道，每个连接子的亚基是蛋白质连接蛋白。在中枢神经系统中，连接蛋白表现出特异性，其中某些类型的连接蛋白在神经元或神经胶质细胞中表达。神经元的连接蛋白和 GJ，结合某些类型的抑制性海马和新皮质神经元集合，提供局部冲动和节律活动、丘脑皮质传导、兴奋性连接控制的同步，这反映了它们在感知过程中的重要作用，在细胞和系统水平上集中注意力和巩固记忆。神经胶质细胞的连接蛋白在大脑中普遍表达，由它们形成的GJs提供分子信号和代谢合作，在大脑发育、髓鞘形成、组织稳态和细胞凋亡过程中的神经元迁移过程中发挥一定的作用。同时，神经胶质连接蛋白基因的突变以及这些蛋白质的缺乏与先天性神经病、听力损失、皮肤病和脑肿瘤等疾病有关。本综述总结了众多分子、电生理、药理学、