Age-related differences of intraischemic gap junction uncoupling in hearts during ischemia

Abstract

Intraischemic formation of edema and earlier GJU indicate faster intraischemic changes in neonates compared with adults. Intraischemic GJU and determination of intracellular water shifts are an experimental approach to establish the period of life-threatening damage. Because both parameters are linked and occur significantly earlier in neonates, they distinctly demonstrate the lower ischemia tolerance of neonatal hearts as both events interact.

Mechanisms of Myocardial Edema Development in CVD Pathophysiology

“…In turn, myocardial edema has the potential to affect the function of gap junctions. Edema can cause mechanical stress of the heart tissue, leading to disruption of gap junctions' integrity and function, with the subsequent impairment of the electrical coupling between cardiomyocytes that underlies the development of myocardial conduction abnormality [44]. The role of gap junctions in the pathogenesis of myocardial edema is presented in Figure 2.…”