GJA1 and diabetes mellitus: (4) The expression of the hemichannel protein CX43, which mediates neuron-glia interactions, was notably upregulated in the spinal cord dorsal horn of rats with DNP in the late phase of diabetes, and intraperitoneal administration of AMD3100 inhibited the upregulation of CX43 and attenuated symptoms of DNP, which further illustrates the interactions between dysfunctional astrocytes and activated neurons in the development of DNP.