Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

53.5K
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...
53.5K
Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

12.6K
Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins with a channel for ions to pass through and a binding site for a ligand. The channel opens only when a ligand attaches to the binding site.
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that...
12.6K
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

7.0K
Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism....
7.0K
Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

87.7K
The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
87.7K
Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

44.9K
Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
44.9K
Hepatic Portal System01:21

Hepatic Portal System

1.8K
The hepatic portal system, a critical part of our circulatory framework, transports nutrient-laden, deoxygenated blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver. This ingenious system plays an indispensable role in maintaining our body's metabolic equilibrium.
At its core, the hepatic portal vein is the result of a confluence of the superior and inferior mesenteric veins along with the splenic vein. Each of these veins has a unique role. The superior mesenteric vein is...
1.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Towards replacement of animal experimentation in scientific research and regulatory testing: launch of <i>NAM Journal</i>.

NAM journal·2026
Same author

Sexual dimorphism in the association of circulating TAM receptors-ligands with MASLD-related fibrosis.

JHEP reports : innovation in hepatology·2026
Same author

The Alarming Consequences of Workforce Reductions at the FDA, EPA, NIH and CDC in the United States.

NAM journal·2026
Same author

Transitional initiatives for advancing the phasing out of the use of animals for drug and chemical safety testing: The IHI VICT3R project for reducing the use of animals by implementing virtual control groups.

NAM journal·2026
Same author

Transcriptomic responses to repeated exposure of human C3A liver spheroids to polystyrene nanoplastics.

Archives of toxicology·2026
Same author

A combined in silico and in vitro new approach methodology for early detection of liver steatogenic chemicals.

Chemico-biological interactions·2026
Same journal

Targeting the Organ-Brain Axis: The Modulatory Role of Peripheral Organs in Depression.

Comprehensive Physiology·2026
Same journal

The Interstitial Fluid Compartment: Still Unrecognized or Biophysically Well Described?

Comprehensive Physiology·2026
Same journal

The Evolution of Taste: Genetic, Dietary, and Cultural Pathways in Human Taste Perception.

Comprehensive Physiology·2026
Same journal

SLIT-ROBO Signaling in Diabetes: A Dual Regulator of Angiogenesis and Vascular Dysfunction.

Comprehensive Physiology·2026
Same journal

Heart-Specific Spinal and Vagal Afferents: Transcriptomic Signatures and Optogenetically Modulated Functional Coupling With Cardiomyocytes.

Comprehensive Physiology·2026
Same journal

The Adipose-Organ Communication Network in Clinical Obesity: From Adiposopathy to Systemic Metabolic Failure.

Comprehensive Physiology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 1, 2025

In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion
12:35

In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion

Published on: November 10, 2011

19.1K

Connexin-Based Channels in the Liver.

Raf Van Campenhout1, Kaat Leroy1, Axelle Cooreman1

  • 1Entity of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Comprehensive Physiology
|August 11, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Connexin hemichannels and gap junctions are vital for liver function and communication. Their dysregulation is linked to liver diseases, highlighting their importance in hepatic homeostasis and pathology.

More Related Videos

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
10:46

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells

Published on: July 16, 2013

16.4K
An Iodide-Yellow Fluorescent Protein-Gap Junction-Intercellular Communication Assay
09:47

An Iodide-Yellow Fluorescent Protein-Gap Junction-Intercellular Communication Assay

Published on: February 1, 2019

7.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 1, 2025

In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion
12:35

In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion

Published on: November 10, 2011

19.1K
Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
10:46

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells

Published on: July 16, 2013

16.4K
An Iodide-Yellow Fluorescent Protein-Gap Junction-Intercellular Communication Assay
09:47

An Iodide-Yellow Fluorescent Protein-Gap Junction-Intercellular Communication Assay

Published on: February 1, 2019

7.3K

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Physiology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Connexin proteins form hemichannels, which assemble into gap junctions.
  • Gap junctions facilitate intercellular communication and ion exchange, crucial for liver homeostasis.
  • Connexin hemichannels also act as conduits between intracellular and extracellular environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the roles of gap junctions and connexin hemichannels in the liver.
  • To explore the involvement of connexin hemichannels in liver pathologies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on connexins, gap junctions, and hemichannels in liver physiology and pathology.

Main Results:

  • Gap junctions are essential for maintaining liver homeostasis through cell-cell communication.
  • Activated connexin hemichannels are implicated in both acute and chronic liver diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Gap junctions and connexin hemichannels play dual roles in the liver, supporting normal function and contributing to disease.
  • Understanding these roles is critical for developing therapeutic strategies for liver pathologies.