Le Gal L, et al. - Researchers investigated the role of Connexin37 (Cx37) in hypertension. For this purpose, normotensive wild-type and Cx37-deficient mice (Cx37−/−) were infused with angiotensin II (Ang II). They found that Cx37−/− mice had less of an increase in blood pressure vs wild-type mice after 2 to 4 weeks; this implied the Ang II response was altered. They submitted mice to a 2-kidney, 1-clip procedure, a renin-dependent model of hypertension, to investigate this possibility. Compared to wild-type mice, less hypertension was detected in Cx37−/− mice two weeks after this clipping. Two weeks later, Cx37−/− mice exhibited a return of blood pressure to control values, despite abnormally high plasma renin levels. It was evident in this study that Ang II signaling was selectively affected by Cx37; this happened mostly via modulation of the expression of the Ang II type 2 receptor.