Aquaporins and Meniere's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Review of the role of aquaporins in inner ear homeostasis and potential role in the pathogenesis of Meniere's disease.


RESULTS
Recent findings include the immunolocalization of aquaporins in the inner ear of mouse, rat, and human to cell types that are likely to undergo high ionic perturbances (e.g. potassium flux) and to putative areas of endolymph resorption or cycling.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of aquaporins and related proteins in the human cochlea and vestibular periphery resembles the distribution found in animal models, suggesting a critical role of aquaporins in inner ear water homeostasis and their potential role in the pathogenesis of Meniere's disease.
Ishiyama
Gail
G
Department of Neurology, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles 90095, USA. ishiyama@ucla.edu
López
Ivan A
IA
Ishiyama
Akira
A
D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000502:physiology*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000378:metabolism*; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000209:etiology; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007761:Labyrinthine Fluids / Q000378:metabolism; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology
D020346:Aquaporins