Connexins pave the way for vascular communication.

Abstract

Coordinated behavior within arterioles is necessary for large resistance changes to occur and is reflected as a conduction of dilations/constrictions along arterioles. These responses arise from locally initiated hyper- or depolarizations that propagate via transmembrane channels formed by connexins (gap junctions). Mounting evidence indicates that gap-junctional communication contributes to the control of vascular tone.