Sales A D, Duarte A B G, Rodrigues G Q, Lima L F, Silva G M, Carvalho A A, Brito I R, da Maranguape R M S, Lobo C H, Aragão J A S, Moura A A, Figueiredo J R, Rodrigues A P R
Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Ceará-UECE, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Department of Morphology, Federal University of Ceará-UFC, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Theriogenology. 2015 Jul 1;84(1):1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.01.005. Epub 2015 Mar 30.
Aquaporins (AQPs) are a well-conserved family of small (approximately 30 kDa) membrane channel proteins that facilitate rapid movement of fluids and have a unique tissue-specific pattern of expression. These proteins have been found in the female reproductive systems of humans, rats, and mice. However, the expression and cellular localization of AQPs have not extensively been studied in the female reproductive system of sheep. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate, by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry respectively, the levels of messenger RNA and the immunolocalization of AQP3, AQP7, and AQP9 in large isolated ovine secondary follicles over a period of IVC. Our analysis revealed that AQP3 and AQP9 were present predominately in follicles that exhibited antrum formation, suggesting a crucial role of these AQPs in the formation of the antrum. Interestingly, AQP7 was only expressed in follicles that had not formed an antrum by Day 12 of culture. In conclusion, the presence of protein channels (AQP3 and AQP9) seems to be essential for the formation of the antrum in isolated ovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro and thus plays an important role during folliculogenesis in this species.
水通道蛋白（AQPs）是一个保守性良好的小分子量（约30 kDa）膜通道蛋白家族，可促进液体快速流动，并具有独特的组织特异性表达模式。这些蛋白已在人类、大鼠和小鼠的雌性生殖系统中被发现。然而，水通道蛋白在绵羊雌性生殖系统中的表达及细胞定位尚未得到广泛研究。因此，本研究旨在分别通过实时聚合酶链反应和免疫组织化学方法，评估在体外培养（IVC）一段时间后大型分离绵羊次级卵泡中AQP3、AQP7和AQP9的信使核糖核酸水平及免疫定位。我们的分析表明，AQP3和AQP9主要存在于出现卵泡腔形成的卵泡中，表明这些水通道蛋白在卵泡腔形成中起关键作用。有趣的是，AQP7仅在培养第12天时未形成卵泡腔的卵泡中表达。总之，蛋白通道（AQP3和AQP9）的存在似乎对体外培养的分离绵羊次级卵泡中卵泡腔的形成至关重要，因此在该物种的卵泡发生过程中发挥重要作用。
