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Related Concept Videos

Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

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Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
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Gap Junctions01:27

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The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...
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Disorders of the Nervous Tissue01:28

Disorders of the Nervous Tissue

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Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
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Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

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Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 23, 2025

Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication: A Functional Biomarker to Assess Adverse Effects of Toxicants and Toxins, and Health Benefits of Natural Products
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Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication: A Functional Biomarker to Assess Adverse Effects of Toxicants and Toxins, and Health Benefits of Natural Products

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Brain Disorders and Chemical Pollutants: A Gap Junction Link?

Marc Mesnil1, Norah Defamie1, Christian Naus2

  • 1Laboratoire STIM, ERL7003 CNRS-Université de Poitiers, 1 rue G. Bonnet-TSA 51 106, 86073 Poitiers, CEDEX 09, France.

Biomolecules
|January 5, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Environmental pollutants may cause brain disorders by disrupting gap junctions, essential for brain cell communication. This research explores the link between pollutant exposure and conditions like autism, Parkinson

Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseBrainParkinson’s diseaseattention deficit hyperactivity disordersautism spectrum disordersblood brain barrierconnexinepilepsygap junctiongliomamajor depressive disordersmigrainespesticidespollutants

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Rising incidence of brain pathologies including autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
  • Emerging evidence suggests environmental pollutants as a potential, underestimated cause of these brain disorders.
  • Brain parenchyma relies on gap junctions for intercellular communication, and many pollutants are known to inhibit their function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that alterations in gap-junctional function due to pollutant exposure contribute to brain disorders.
  • To examine the effects of various pollutants on gap junctions and connexin expression in the brain.
  • To review the involvement of connexin dysfunction and pollutants in neurodevelopmental, neurobehavioral, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on gap-junctional organization, connexin expression, and function in brain parenchyma.
  • Analysis of studies detailing the impact of major pollutants (pesticides, BPA, phthalates, heavy metals, airborne particles) on gap junctions.
  • Categorization and description of brain disorders (neurodevelopmental, neurobehavioral, neurodegenerative, cancers) with known connexin dysfunction and pollutant links.

Main Results:

  • Pollutants, including pesticides, bisphenol A, phthalates, heavy metals, and airborne particles, have been shown to inhibit gap-junctional function.
  • Connexin dysfunction, a consequence of pollutant exposure, is implicated in various brain disorders.
  • Evidence links pollutant-induced gap junction alterations to neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism), neurobehavioral disorders (e.g., depression), neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's, Alzheimer's), and brain cancers (e.g., glioma).

Conclusions:

  • Pollutant-induced inhibition of gap junctions is a plausible mechanism contributing to the development of various brain disorders.
  • Both prenatal and postnatal pollutant exposures may lead to gap-junctional alterations, impacting brain health.
  • Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the role of environmental pollutants and gap-junctional dysfunction in brain pathologies.