Expression of aquaporin water channels in the rat pituitary gland.
We investigated the expression of aquaporin (AQP) subtypes (AQP1-AQP9) in the rat pituitary gland by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Specific amplification by RT-PCR was observed in AQP1, AQP3, AQP4 and AQP5 but not in the others. AQP1 immunoreactivity was detected in the endothelial cells of blood vessels. No positive reaction to AQP3 was observed by immunohistochemistry, in spite of the detection of mRNA. AQP4 was localized in the supporting cells of the adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis. AQP5 was expressed in parts of the marginal cells in Rathke's residual pouch. These observations suggest that several subtypes of the AQP family are involved in regulation of water homeostasis in the rat pituitary gland.
Department of Anatomy, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan. sachik@hyo-med.ac.jp
Sachi
S
Kuwahara
Seishi
S
Maeda
Koichi
K
Tanaka
Tetsu
T
Hayakawa
Makoto
M
Seki
D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D020346:Aquaporins