Disruption of cyclooxygenase-2 prevents downregulation of cortical AQP2 and AQP3 in response to bilateral ureteral obstruction in the mouse.

Bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) in rats is associated with increased cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) expression, and selective COX-2 inhibition prevents downregulation of aquaporins (AQPs) in response to BUO. It was hypothesized that a murine model would display similar changes in renal COX-2 and AQPs upon BUO and that targeted disruption of COX-2 protects against BUO-induced suppression of collecting duct AQPs. COX-2(-/-) and wild-type littermates (C57BL/6) were employed to determine COX-1, -2, AQP2, and AQP3 protein abundances and localization after BUO. In a separate series, sham and BUO wild-type mice were treated with a selective COX-2 inhibitor, parecoxib. The COX-2 protein level increased in wild-type mice in response to BUO and was not detectable in COX-2(-/-). COX-1 protein abundance was increased in sham-operated and BUO mice. Total AQP2 and -3 mRNA and protein levels decreased significantly after BUO in the cortex+outer medulla (C+OM) and inner medulla (IM). The decrease in C+OM AQP2 and -3 levels was attenuated/prevented in COX-2(-/-) mice, whereas there was no change in the IM. In parallel, inhibition of COX-2 by parecoxib rescued C+OM AQP3 and IM AQP2 protein level in wild-type mice subjected to BUO. In summary, 1) In C57BL/6 mice, ureteral obstruction increases renal COX-2 expression in interstitial cells and lowers AQP2/-3 abundance and 2) inhibition of COX-2 activity by targeted disruption or pharmacological blockade attenuates obstruction-induced AQP downregulation. In conclusion, COX-2-derived prostaglandins contribute to downregulation of transcellular water transporters in the collecting duct and likely to postobstruction diureses in the mouse.