title: Expression of aquaporin-3 in ipsilateral rat kidney with unilateral partial ureteral obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aquaporin (AQP), a protein located in the cellular membrane, allows rapid passage of water across the cell membrane. Various AQP subtypes have been associated with ureteral obstruction. In particular, AQP3 has two functions: water and glycerol transport. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of AQP3 in the ipsilateral rat kidney in unilateral partial ureteral obstruction (UPUO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats (n=30, 200-250 g) were divided into two groups. A sham operation was performed in the control group (n=10) and UPUO of the left upper ureter with a silicone tube was induced in the UPUO group (n=20). The left kidney was obtained from both groups 7 days after the operations. The kidney specimens underwent immunofluorescent staining with AQP3 monoclonal antibody, and the density of AQP3 in the tissue was measured with an image analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the UPUO group, thinning of the epithelial layer and infiltration of inflammatory cells was seen along with the localized expression of AQP3 in the basolateral aspect of the principal collecting duct cells. The mean optical density of AQP3 was significantly lower in the UPUO group than in the control group (100.9±17.5 compared with 131.7±16.9; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that a decrease in the expression of AQP3 may be the result of a urinary stasis reaction caused by UPUO in response to local and intrarenal factors. These changes suggest that AQP3 may have a pathophysiological role in UPUO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ju Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ki Hak
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jae Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Chong Koo
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Sul
keywords: Aquaporin 3; Ureteral obstruction