Connexin43 mimetic peptide is neuroprotective and improves function following spinal cord injury

Connexin43 (Cx43) is a gap junction protein up-regulated after spinal cord injury and is involved in the on-going spread of secondary tissue damage. To test whether a connexin43 mimetic peptide (Peptide5) reduces inflammation and tissue damage and improves function in an in vivo model of spinal cord injury, rats were subjected to a 10 g, 12.5 mm weight drop injury at the vertebral level T10 using a MASCIS impactor. Vehicle or connexin43 mimetic...