title: Expression of aquaporin water channels in the vagina in premenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane proteins that facilitate water movement across biological membranes. This study builds on a previous report on the distinct localization of AQPs in the rat vagina.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to investigate the localization and expression of the AQPs in the vaginal tissue of premenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anterior vaginal tissue was collected during transvaginal uterine myomectomy or hysterectomy from 10 premenopausal women (mean age, 40 years) for Western blot and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression and cellular localization of AQP1-9 were determined in the human vagina by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunolabeling showed that AQP1 was mainly expressed in the capillaries and venules of the vagina, AQP2 was expressed in the cytoplasm of the epithelium, AQP3 was mainly associated with the plasma membrane of the vaginal epithelium, and both AQP5 and AQP6 were expressed in the cytoplasm throughout all vaginal epithelium. Western blot analysis revealed bands at 28 kDa for AQP1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 proteins. However, AQP4, 7, 8, and 9 were not detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distinct localization of AQPs in the human vagina suggests that AQP1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 may play an important role in vaginal lubrication in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, SexualMedical Research Center, Gwangju, Korea
authors.forename: Sun-Ouck
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Hyun Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyuyoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Soo Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwangsung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051399:Aquaporin 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051400:Aquaporin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051402:Aquaporin 5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051403:Aquaporin 6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D017697:Premenopause / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051399:Aquaporin 2; D051402:Aquaporin 5; D051403:Aquaporin 6; D020346:Aquaporins; D051398:Aquaporin 1; D051400:Aquaporin 3