Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, SexualMedical Research Center, Gwangju, Korea
J Sex Med. 2011 Jul;8(7):1925-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02284.x. Epub 2011 Apr 14.
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.
水通道蛋白（AQP）是促进生物膜上水运动的膜蛋白。本研究建立在前一篇关于 AQP 在大鼠阴道中独特定位的报告基础上。
本研究旨在研究绝经前妇女阴道组织中 AQP 的定位和表达。
在经阴道子宫肌瘤切除术或子宫切除术期间，从 10 名绝经前妇女（平均年龄 40 岁）的阴道前壁采集组织，用于 Western blot 和免疫组织化学分析。
通过 Western blot 和免疫组织化学确定 AQP1-9 在人阴道中的表达和细胞定位。
免疫标记显示 AQP1 主要表达于阴道的毛细血管和小静脉，AQP2 表达于上皮细胞的细胞质，AQP3 主要与阴道上皮的质膜相关，AQP5 和 AQP6 均表达于整个阴道上皮的细胞质中。Western blot 分析显示 28 kDa 处有 AQP1、2、3、5 和 6 蛋白条带。然而，未检测到 AQP4、7、8 和 9。
AQP 在人阴道中的独特定位表明 AQP1、2、3、5 和 6 可能在女性阴道润滑中发挥重要作用。
