[Changes of aquaporin expression during lung development in rats].
OBJECTIVE
Many studies have shown that tissue development is closely correlated with fluid transport. Aquaporins (AQPs) are a group of cell membrane proteins that actively and selectively transport water. This study aimed to investigate the changes of AQPs expression during lung development in rats in order to elucidate the role of AQPs in the rat lung development.


METHODS
AQP1, AQP3, AQP4 and AQP5 proteins and mRNA in the lung cell membrane were measured by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively in the 20-day-old embryo (E20), 7-day-old newborn rat, and one-month-old young and adult rats. The correlation between AQPs expression and lung development was studied.


RESULTS
With increasing age, the lung development showed a dynamic and successive course, with the most rapid from the fetus to the newborn rat, and then a slowed down afterwards. AQPs mRNA was weakly expressed in the lung of the E20 group. Lung AQPs mRNA and protein increased rapidly after birth until adulthood. The AQPs distribution patterns in the lung were unique with no duplication. There was a positive correlation between AQPs expression and lung development (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to being involved in the transepithelial transport of water in the lung, AQPs is also related to its development.
Chen
Guo-Bing
GB
Department of Pediatrics, First Hospital of Xiamen Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, China.
Xu
Feng
F
Lu
Zhong-Yi
ZY
Kuang
Feng-Wu
FW
D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D020346:Aquaporins; D012333:RNA, Messenger