Connexin43 immunoreactivity in the catfish retina

We used antibodies directed against rat heart connexin43 (Cx43) to perform immunoblot and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses of the catfish retina. The antibodies recognized a retinal protein which co-migrated with mouse brain Cx43. IHC staining resulted in punctate labeling of the external limiting membrane and the outer nuclear layer. Although infrequent, labeling was also observed in the inner nuclear layer. These results suggest that a Cx43 isoform may be present in Muller glial cells and neurons of the distal catfish retina.