Figure 5

Cx29, Cx37, and Cx40 are expressed by discrete cell populations with only Cx40 responsive to laminin. Cx29 (a, arrow), Cx37 (c, arrow) and Cx40 (e, arrow) were found in a small number of cells within neurospheres. Insets depict immunostaining performed on null-mutant controls demonstrating antibody specificity. Cx29 was expressed by PDGFαR⁺ OPCs (b). Cx37 and Cx40 expression were detected in nestin⁺ Type 2a cells (d, f). Laminin did not alter the frequency of Cx29⁺ (g-I, arrows) or Cx37⁺ (j-l, arrows) cells but decreased the number of Cx40⁺ cells detected in culture (m-o, arrows). Data represent mean of 5–15 sections (- laminin) or field (+ laminin) counted over n = 5–10 cultures/condition ± SEM (g, j.m). Scale bars, 50 μm. Inset in b, 10 μm. Inset in d, f, 25 μm. *p < 0.05 Student's t-test.