This phenomenon could be more important under conditions with a higher Cx45/Cx43 ratio, for example in the ventricular epicardium, where Cx43 levels are relatively low (Yamada et al., 2004), or during heart failure, where the expression of Cx45 increases and Cx43 decreases (Yamada et al., 2003). The gene discussed is GJA1; the disease is heart failure.