[Expression of aquaporin-4 protein in the brain of preeclampsia model rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein in preeclampsia(PE) model rats.


METHODS
Adult SD rats were divided into PE model group (n=7) induced by endotoxin, normal pregnancy group (n=6) and non-pregnancy group (n=12) treated with an equal volume of saline. AQP4 protein expression in the brain of the rats was detected with immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.


RESULTS
The blood pressure in PE model rats (135∓9 mmHg) was significantly higher than that in normal pregnancy rats (116∓8 mmHg) and non-pregnancy rats (112∓6 mmHg) (P<0.02). The rats in PE model group showed obvious proteinuria compared with the other two groups (3.8∓0.5 vs 2.6∓0.6 and 2.3∓0.4, P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that AQP4 protein was localized primarily around the brain parenchymal blood vessels. Western analysis revealed a significantly elevated AQP4 protein expression in PE model group (39.6∓4.9) compared with that in normal pregnancy group (26.5∓4.3) and non-pregnancy group (9.7∓2.1) (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The up-regulation of AQP4 protein around the intraparenchymal blood vessels of the brain may play a role in the development of eclampsia.
Department of Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510623, China.E-mail: laurylei@163.com.
Lei
L
Liu
Huishu
H
Liu
Qian
Q
Huang
Yixin
Y
Gao
Bihui
B
Hu
D000818:Animals; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
C496032:Aqp4 protein, rat; D051401:Aquaporin 4