[Water channels of the cell--aquaporins].
BACKGROUND
Several mechanisms in the body regulate the water transport within the cells up and down during physiological and pathological conditions. The discovery of aquaporins, water channel proteins, has brought more insight into and understanding of how water crosses plasma membranes within cells in body tissue.


METHODS
The functions of aquaporins are not fully understood; this paper summarise current knowledge of various aquaporins.


RESULTS
Known aquaporins are discussed in relation to some physiological, pathological and clinical conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
In the future, measurements of aquaporin concentrations in urine and possibly in other samples will give us a broader picture of water exchange and a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying water production in clinical states like renal and heart failure and liver insufficiency. Moreover, by manipulating water channel proteins by compounds developed for this purpose, one may have a tool for treating some clinical disorders in which water depletion or water overload is an important factor.
Forslund
T
T
Medisinsk avdeling Haukeland Sykehus, Bergen.
Iversen
B M
BM
D020346:Aquaporins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001834:Body Water / Q000502:physiology; D003919:Diabetes Insipidus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
D020346:Aquaporins