Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan.
Cell Tissue Res. 2011 Apr;344(1):51-61. doi: 10.1007/s00441-011-1134-5. Epub 2011 Feb 24.
Aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a member of the water channel family, has high water permeability and multi-functional potentiality. Although an avian AQP4 homolog has recently been identified, its overall localization is still largely unknown. This study demonstrates the presence of AQP4 in several organs of chicken by using a specific chicken AQP4 antibody. Western blot analysis has revealed two bands of chicken AQP4 (30 and 32 kDa) in the brain, proventriculus, pectoral muscle, kidney, and ureter. The brain is the primary expression site of AQP4 in chicken. Immunohistochemical analysis of the brain has shown the highest AQP4 immunoreactivity around the cerebral ventricles, blood vessels, and the Purkinje cells. In peripheral organs, AQP4-immunoreactive elements have been observed in the ureter, glandular cells of the proventriculus, sarcolemma of the pectoral muscle, and the epithelium of the ceca and the rectum. Moreover, a heavily stained network of AQP4-immunoreactive fibers has been detected within the enteric plexuses.
水通道蛋白-4（AQP4）是水通道家族的成员，具有高水通透性和多功能潜能。虽然最近已经鉴定出一种禽类 AQP4 同源物，但它的整体定位仍在很大程度上未知。本研究通过使用特异性鸡 AQP4 抗体，证明了 AQP4 存在于鸡的多个器官中。Western blot 分析显示，在脑、前胃、胸肌、肾和输尿管中存在两种鸡 AQP4（30 和 32 kDa）的条带。脑是鸡中 AQP4 的主要表达部位。脑的免疫组织化学分析显示，在脑室周围、血管和浦肯野细胞周围存在最高的 AQP4 免疫反应性。在外周器官中，在输尿管、前胃的腺细胞、胸肌的肌膜以及盲肠和直肠的上皮中观察到 AQP4-免疫反应性元素。此外，在肠丛内检测到 AQP4-免疫反应性纤维的重度染色网络。
