Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Ex Vivo Intestinal Sacs to Assess Mucosal Permeability in Models of Gastrointestinal Disease
Published on: February 9, 2016
The Role of Connexins in Gastrointestinal Diseases
Jeremy Wong1, Jasmine Chopra2, Lorraine Lok Wing Chiang1
1Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China.
Abstract:
Gap junctions are hexagonal arrays of protein molecules in the plasma membrane and were first described in Mauthner cell synapses of goldfish. They form pathways for coupling between cells, allowing passive, electrotonic spread of ions and also passage of larger molecules such as amino acids and nucleotides. They are expressed in both excitable and non-excitable tissues. Each gap junction is made of two connexons, which are hexameric proteins of the connexin subunit. In this review, the roles that connexins play in gastrointestinal motility, the mechanisms of altered connexin expression leading to inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal infections, and gastrointestinal symptoms in autistic spectrum disorder are discussed in detail.
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal System
Here's a detailed walkthrough of this complex system:
Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders
Histology of the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract
The mucosa is sometimes called a mucous membrane due to its mucus-secreting features. This membrane is composed of epithelium, which directly interacts with ingested substances, and the lamina propria, a layer...
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System I: Ingestion and Propulsion
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System II: Digestion and Absorption
Digestion begins in the mouth, where food undergoes mechanical breakdown by chewing and combines with saliva. Salivary amylase, an enzyme in saliva, starts the breakdown of starches into maltose. The food then travels down the esophagus to the stomach.
In the stomach, a...
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System III: Elimination

