Redistribution of aquaporins in uterine epithelial cells at the time of implantation in the rat.
The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of aquaporins 1, 4 and 5 in uterine epithelial cells during the early stages of pregnancy in the rat. Immunofluorescent and immunogold techniques showed that there was a shift of aquaporin 5 to the apical surface of uterine epithelial cells in the mesometrial pole of the uterus at the time of implantation. This study also revealed the absence of aquaporin 4 in the rat uterus during early pregnancy. Aquaporin 1 was observed in stromal blood vessels but there was no change in uterine epithelial cells during early pregnancy. These results suggest that aquaporin 5 plays an important role in the removal of uterine luminal fluid at the time of implantation in the rat and may contribute to the antimesometrial positioning of the implanting blastocyst.
Lindsay
Laura A
LA
School of Medical Sciences and Institute for Biomedical Research, Department of Anatomy and Histology, F13, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia. laural@anatomy.usyd.edu.au
Murphy
Christopher R
CR
D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D020346:Aquaporins