ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the relation between aquaporins (AQPs) and fecal water content in rats with spinal cord injury. Methods:A total of 48 female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control group (n= 24) and spinal cord injury group (SCI group,n = 24). SCI group underwent transection at T8, while the control group was only subjected to laminectomy. Posterior limb function was assessed by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score before modeling and on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th day after SCI. Fecal water content was measured before modeling and on the 3rd, 14th and 28th day after SCI. Colon specimens were collected to detect the expression of AQP1, AQP3 and AQP4 by immunohistochemistry on the 3rd, 14th and 28th day after SCI. Results:The BBB score was significantly lower in SCI group than in the control group (t > 69.230,P< 0.001) after SCI, as well as the fecal water content (t > 5.814,P< 0.001). The expression of AQP1, AQP3, and AQP4 in the colon was higher in SCI group than in the control group (|t|> 5.165,P < 0.01) on the 3rd, 14th, and 28th day after SCI. The expression of AQPs negatively correlated with fecal water content (r = -0791~-0.730,P< 0.001). Conclusion:The expression of AQPs in the colon of rats after SCI was up-regulated, which was correlated with excessive water absorption after SCI.