Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 1;18(12):2593. doi: 10.3390/ijms18122593.
Water is the major component of cells and tissues, and the movement of water across the cell membrane is a fundamental property of life. Until the discovery of the first water channel, aquaporin, it was long assumed that the transport of water was due to simple diffusion through the lipid bilayer membrane that encloses cells. Aquaporin (AQP) molecules were first discovered in the human uterus in 1994, and since then several studies have investigated these channels in the female reproductive system. The expressions of AQPs have been proven in the reproductive system. Their levels are altered during the implantation process, both in the uterus and the fetal cells, and participate in the control of the flow of amniotic fluid. They seem to be very important for the normal placental functions. AQPs are present during parturition, participating in the control of pregnant myometrial contractions and cervical ripening. However, most of the physiological and regulatory roles of AQPs are not clarified in the reproductive tract. Furthermore, no satisfactory knowledge is available about their sensitivities to different drugs. AQP-selective ligands may contribute to the development of new drug candidates and the therapy of several reproductive disorders.
水是细胞和组织的主要成分，水分子跨细胞膜的运动是生命的基本特性。在发现第一个水通道蛋白（AQP）之前，人们长期以来一直认为水的运输是由于通过包围细胞的脂质双层膜的简单扩散。水通道蛋白（AQP）分子于 1994 年首次在人子宫中发现，此后，已有多项研究调查了女性生殖系统中的这些通道。AQP 在生殖系统中表达。在植入过程中，它们在子宫和胎儿细胞中的水平发生改变，并参与控制羊水的流动。它们似乎对正常胎盘功能非常重要。AQP 在分娩过程中存在，参与控制孕妇子宫收缩和宫颈成熟。然而，AQP 在生殖道中的大多数生理和调节作用尚未阐明。此外，关于它们对不同药物的敏感性也没有令人满意的知识。AQP 选择性配体可能有助于开发新的候选药物，并治疗几种生殖障碍。
