Fig. 4: Cx43, but not Cx30, is involved in OXT-induced alterations of the cytoskeleton of astrocytes.
From: OXTR-mediated signaling in astrocytes contributes to anxiolysis
a Representative images taken from mouse acute hippocampal slices treated with either 500 nM OXT or Veh for 10 min. Scale bar = 10 µm. b–d Domain area, process length and process number of astrocytes in acute hippocampal slice preparations from either wildtype (WT; b), Cx30 knockout (c) or Cx43 knockout (d) mice treated with OXT or Veh (treatment: domain area: t14 = 2.016, p = 0.063 WT; t19 = 3.900, ***p = 0.001 Cx30KO; process length: U = 6, *p = 0.02 WT; t22 = 2.183, *p = 0.04 Cx30KO; process number: t13 = 2.321, *p = 0.037 WT; t19 = 3.456, **p = 0.003 Cx30KO). e Validation of successful Cx43 knockdown in rat primary astrocytes by means of immunoblotting (t7 = 4.319, **p = 0.004). Representative Western blot bands are shown below. f Quantification of longest primary process in cells transfected with either Gja1 siRNA or a control oligonucleotide (scrRNA) and subsequent administration of OXT (interaction: F1,680 = 3.617, p = 0.058; **p = 0.01 scrRNA/Veh vs. scrRNA/OXT). g No effect of Cx43 knockdown on Gem protein quantities. Representative Western blot bands are shown below. h Effect of Cx43 knockdown on phosphorylation of Ezrin/Thr576 reflecting an increase in active Ezrin (t11 = 2.438, *p = 0.033). Representative Western blot bands are shown below. i Correlation of Cx43 level in Gja1 siRNA transfected cells with Ezrin phosphorylation (p = 0.046, r2 = 0.582). Data represent mean relative or absolute values +/−SEM.
