Expression of Aquaporin Water Channels in the Vagina in Premenopausal Women

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. The purposes of this study were to investigate the localization and expression of the AQPs in the vaginal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sexual medicine 2011-07, Vol.8 (7), p.1925-1930
Main Authors: Kim, Sun‐Ouck, Oh, Kyung Jin, Lee, Hyun Suk, Ahn, Kyuyoun, Kim, Soo Wan, Park, Kwangsung
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aquaporin 1 - biosynthesis
Aquaporin 2 - biosynthesis
Aquaporin 3 - biosynthesis
Aquaporin 5 - biosynthesis
Aquaporin 6 - biosynthesis
Aquaporins
Aquaporins - biosynthesis
Blotting, Western
Female
Human
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lubrication
Middle Aged
Physiology
Premenopause - metabolism
Vagina
Vagina - metabolism
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Summary: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. The purposes of this study were to investigate the localization and expression of the AQPs in the vaginal tissue of premenopausal women. Anterior vaginal tissue was collected during transvaginal uterine myomectomy or hysterectomy from 10 premenopausal women (mean age, 40 years) for Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The expression and cellular localization of AQP1–9 were determined in the human vagina by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. 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. 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. Kim S‐O, Oh KJ, Lee HS, Ahn K, Kim SW, and Park K. Expression of aquaporin water channels in the vagina in premenopausal women. J Sex Med 2011;8:1925–1930.
ISSN:1743-6095
1743-6109
DOI:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02284.x