Proposed mechanism.

<p>Since Cx43 inhibits c-Src activity <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032448#pone.0032448-HerreroGonzalez2" target="_blank">[43]</a>, it could be proposed that ET-1 by reducing Cx43 activates c-Src, which in turn increases HIF-1α. HIF-1α dimerizes with HIF-1ß and translocates to the nucleus. The transcriptional activity of HIF induces the synthesis of the machinery required to augment the rate of glucose uptake in astrocytes, i.e., the glucose transporters, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 and the enzymes required for glucose phosphorylation, type I and type II hexokinase (Hx-1 and Hx-2).