title: Expression and localization of Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in folliculogenesis of ewes.
abstract: The mRNA expression and localization of Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) were investigated in the ovarian follicles of ewes at different stages of development (primordial, primary, secondary, small, and large antral). The gene expression was quantified by qPCR, while the protein identification and localization were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Analysis revealed that AQP3 mRNA was detected only in the antral follicles, whereas the protein expression was detected in the oocyte and granulosa cells in all stages of follicular development. The latter observation suggests that the presence of AQP3 in follicles of all categories, especially in the antral follicles, provides novel insights on the mechanisms that regulate the flow of water between cells during the formation of antral follicles in sheep.
authors.affiliation: Oocytes and Ovarian Preantral Follicles Laboratory (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonia Debora
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.affiliation: Oocytes and Ovarian Preantral Follicles Laboratory (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivina Rocha
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Oocytes and Ovarian Preantral Follicles Laboratory (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laritza Ferreira
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.affiliation: Oocytes and Ovarian Preantral Follicles Laboratory (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Beatriz Graça
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Azevedo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arlindo Alencar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Oocytes and Ovarian Preantral Follicles Laboratory (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Ricardo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Oocytes and Ovarian Preantral Follicles Laboratory (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Electronic address: aprrodriguespapers@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Ribeiro
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051400:Aquaporin 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021381:Protein Transport; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D051400:Aquaporin 3
keywords: Aquaporin 3; Ovarian follicles; Sheep