title: Localization and regulation of aquaporins in the murine larynx.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of aquaporins (AQPs) in the vocal folds and the parasympathetic regulation of AQPs in the laryngeal glands may be important for controlling laryngeal secretion and vocal fold hydration. These findings are thought to be an initial step towards understanding potential mechanisms of water flow through the vocal fold surface.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Lubrication of the vocal folds is important for phonation and laryngeal defense. However, the system of water transport in the laryngeal epithelium has not yet been clarified. We investigated the expression of AQP water channnels (AQP1-9) in the murine larynx and examined the neural regulating mechanisms of these subtypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The distribution of AQPs (AQP1-9) in the murine larynx was examined by immunohistochemistry. Next, the neural mechanism regulating AQPs in the larynx was investigated using unilaterally vagotomized mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AQP1, 4, and 5 were expressed in the laryngeal epithelium including the vocal folds. Vocal fold AQP expression was minimal at the vocal process. AQP2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were localized to the submucosal glands. Expression of AQPs in the vagotomized region was significantly decreased compared with the contralateral intact side. The expression in the laryngeal glands was also decreased in the aged mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Mona El-Rabie
authors.initials: Mel-R
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Ahlam Abdel-Salam Nabieh
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Adawy
authors.forename: Mohamed Nasser
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kotby
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hisa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007830:Larynx / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism; D014628:Vagotomy; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins; D014867:Water