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(Circulation Research. 2003;93:201.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Molecular Medicine

High Incidence of Cardiac Malformations in Connexin40-Deficient Mice

Hong Gu, Frank C. Smith, Steven M. Taffet, Mario Delmar

From the Departments of Pharmacology (H.G., M.D.), Microbiology and Immunology (S.M.T.), and Pediatrics (F.C.S.), SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.

Correspondence to Mario Delmar, MD, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY 13210. E-mail delmarm{at}upstate.edu

Gap junctions are intercellular channels formed by oligomerization of a protein called connexin (Cx). The heart expresses at least three connexin isotypes: Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45. A possible role for Cx40 in cardiac morphogenesis remains to be determined. We have characterized the anatomy and histology of fetal and newborn hearts obtained from crossing Cx40-deficient mice of mixed genetic background (C57BL/6x129Sv). Hearts were serial-sectioned (5 µm) along the coronal plane, stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and visualized by conventional light microscopy. Cardiac malformations in mice lacking Cx40 in one allele (Cx40^+/-) included bifid atrial appendage, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), and an aortic arch abnormality. In Cx40^-/- mice resulting from crossing of Cx40^+/- mice, the most common cardiac malformations were double-outlet right ventricle (DORV), TOF, and endocardial cushion defects. Overall incidence of cardiac malformations was 6/33 (18%) in Cx40^+/- mice and 4/12 (33%) in Cx40^-/- mice. No cardiac malformations were observed in 15 wild-type mice studied. In addition, we examined 39 hearts from offspring of Cx40^-/- matings. Frequency of cardiac malformations was even higher in this group (44%). Over one third of the hearts (14 of 39) showed conotruncal malformations corresponding to either DORV or TOF. Endocardial cushion defects were found in 3 out of 39 hearts. Our results suggest that Cx40 participates in cardiac morphogenesis, likely in association with other (unknown) products whose expression may vary with the genetic background of the mice.

Key Words: connexin40 • gap junction • cardiac malformations • cardiac morphogenesis • mice

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