Gap Junctions (GJs) and Glaucoma

GJs Can Offer Neuroprotection
This study references use of our GFAP Antibody,

Gap junctions (GJs), intercellular channels composed of subunit connexins, can play a major role in secondary cell death by forming conduits through which toxic molecules from dying cells pass to and injure coupled neighbors. Secondary cells like glia and astrocytes are involved in this process though the precise mechanisms have yet to be defined: Abram Akopian, Sandeep Kumar, Hariharasubramanian Ramakrishnan, Kaushambi Roy, Suresh Viswanathan, and Stewart A. Bloomfield. Targeting neuronal gap junctions in mouse retina offers neuroprotection in glaucoma. J Clin Invest. doi:10.1172/JCI91948. Copyright © 2017, The American Society for Clinical Investigation. ...anti-GFAP (1:1,000, RA22101; Neuromics)...

Figure: Reactive gliosis in retinas of microbead-injected mice is significantly reduced by GJ blockade/ablation. (A) Confocal images of retinal layers stained for GFAP, SMI32, and DAPI in control and glaucomatous retinas. Scale bar: 50 μm in all panels. Z-stack: 7 sections, 3-μm steps. (B) GFAP expression in the retinal layers of CxWT and Cx36–/– mouse retinas under different conditions (n = 6 retinas per group). (C) GFAP labeling in retinal sections from control and microbead-injected CxWT (n = 5 retinas), Cx36–/– (n = 5 retinas), and Cx36–/– Cx45–/– mice (n = 3 retinas). GFAP expression is presented as percentage of immunolabeling per area.

Our Neuron/Synapse, Astrocytes, Glia, Microglia, Oligodendrocytes, Progenitors and Schwann Cell Markers are frequently referenced and I will continue to post new developments.