Regional expression of aquaporin 1, 4, and 9 in the brain during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is a state of physiologic adaptation, with significant changes in cardiovascular, renal, and hemodynamic systems. Aquaporins (AQPs) may play a role in facilitating these changes. While AQP expression has been assessed in several organs during pregnancy, little is known about its expression in the brain during pregnancy. Therefore, this study assesses the regional expression of AQP1, 4, and 9 during pregnancy and the postpartum period using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The authors show that AQP1, 4, and 9 are expressed in the anterior and posterior cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem of nonpregnant, midpregnant, late pregnant, and postpartum rats. The regional distribution pattern of AQP4 and 9 remained similar during gestation, whereas this pattern changed for AQP1. The expression levels of AQP1, 4, and 9 in the brainstem did not change with gestation, whereas changes were found in the anterior cerebrum for AQP4 and in the posterior cerebrum and cerebellum for all AQPs.
Wiegman
Marchien J
MJ
Department of Neurology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
Bullinger
Lisa V
LV
Kohlmeyer
Meghan M
MM
Hunter
Timothy C
TC
Cipolla
Marilyn J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
C496022:Aqp1 protein, rat; C496032:Aqp4 protein, rat; C491637:Aqp9 protein, rat; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D020346:Aquaporins; D051398:Aquaporin 1