Expression of aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 3 in fetal membranes and placenta in human term pregnancies with oligohydramnios.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the pathophysiology of oligohydramnios, the association between the expression of aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 3 in fetal membranes and placenta and oligohydramnios was investigated.

METHODS:

Sixty patients underwent elective cesarean sections at term were studied, 30 patients with isolated oligohydramnios and the other 30 with normal amniotic fluid volume (AFV). Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were employed to determine expression and localization of aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 3 in amnion, chorion and placenta, respectively.

RESULTS:

The expression of aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 3 was detected in amnion, chorion and placenta using real-time RT-PCR. By immunohistochemistry, aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 3 protein expressions in amnion epithelia and chorion cytotrophoblasts were identified. In placenta, aquaporin 1 was detected in placental vessels, while aquaporin 3 was found in trophoblast cells. In comparison to normal AFV group, there was a significant decrease of aquaporin 1 expression in amnion in oligohydramnios group, but no significant difference in chorion and placenta between the two groups. The expression of the aquaporin 3 in amnion and chorion in oligohydramnios group was significantly decreased, while expression in placenta was significantly increased compared with that in normal AFV group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Alteration of aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 3 expression in fetal membranes and placenta may be important in the pathophysiology of isolated oligohydramnios.

• Authors: X Q Zhu, S S Jiang, X J Zhu, S W Zou, Y H Wang, Y C Hu
• Journal: Placenta (Placenta) Vol. 30 Issue 8 Pg. 670-6 (Aug 2009) ISSN: 1532-3102 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 19545896 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• AQP1 protein, human
• AQP2 protein, human
• Aquaporin 2
• RNA, Messenger
• Aquaporin 1

Topics

• Adult
• Amniotic Fluid (physiology)
• Aquaporin 1 (genetics, metabolism)
• Aquaporin 2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Case-Control Studies
• Extraembryonic Membranes (metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Gene Expression
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Oligohydramnios (genetics, metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Placenta (metabolism, pathology)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Pregnancy
• RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
• Young Adult