Figure 7: Cx40 regulates platelet function independently from Cx37.

The levels of fibrinogen binding (a) and P-selectin exposure (b) in Cx37^+/+ and Cx37^−/− mouse platelets in the presence or absence of ⁴⁰Gap27 (100 μg ml⁻¹) were measured by flow cytometry using whole blood following stimulation with 1 μg ml⁻¹ CRP-XL. Similarly, the levels of fibrinogen binding (c) and P-selectin exposure (d) in Cx40^+/+ and Cx40^−/− mouse platelets in the presence or absence of ^37,43Gap27 (100 μg ml⁻¹) were measured following stimulation with 1 μg ml⁻¹ CRP-XL. The level of fibrinogen binding obtained in the absence of inhibitor was taken 100%. Data represent mean±s.d. (n=4; Student’s t-test, *P<0.05 and **P<0.01).