Meda P
Department of Morphology, University of Geneva Medical School, Switzerland.
J Bioenerg Biomembr. 1996 Aug;28(4):369-77. doi: 10.1007/BF02110113.
Connexins, gap junctions, and coupling are obligatory features of both endocrine and exocrine glandular epithelia. Evidence from these two types of tissues, and particularly from pancreatic islets and acini, indicates that cell-to-cell communication via gap junction channels is required for proper biosynthesis, storage, and release of specific secretory products. However, endocrine and exocrine glands express a different set of connexins and show opposite connexin and coupling changes in relation with the activation and inhibition of their secretory function. Also, several hormones modulate connexin and coupling expression, and junctional coupling affects hormonal stimulation. These observations indicate that gap junction channels play an important role in the control of secretion and hormonal action.
连接蛋白、间隙连接和耦联是内分泌和外分泌腺上皮的必备特征。来自这两种组织，特别是胰岛和腺泡的证据表明，通过间隙连接通道进行的细胞间通讯是特定分泌产物正常生物合成、储存和释放所必需的。然而，内分泌腺和外分泌腺表达不同的连接蛋白组，并且在其分泌功能的激活和抑制方面显示出相反的连接蛋白和耦联变化。此外，几种激素调节连接蛋白和耦联表达，而连接耦联影响激素刺激。这些观察结果表明，间隙连接通道在分泌控制和激素作用中起重要作用。
