Effect of PM2.5 on Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication in Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of PM2.5 on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between rat cardiomyocytes. Methods Primary cultured cardiomyocytes were prepared from 1-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats and exposed to PM2.5(1,10,100 ?g/ml)for 24 hours. The GJIC between cardiomyocytes was detected by the scrape loading dye transfer assay. The distribution and density of connexin43(Cx43) in the cells was detected by indirect immunofluorescence and the expression of Cx43 was detected by western blotting. Results The gap junctional intercellular communication between cardiomyocytes was significantly inhibited by PM2.5 in a dose-dependent manner. The fluorescence density of Cx43 was significantly decreased in PM2.5-treated cells,and the expression of Cx43 was also slightly decreased. Conclusion PM2.5 can inhibit GJIC between cardiomyocytes,which may be mediated by the decreased expression and aberrant distribution of Cx43 in PM2.5-treated cells.