THE EXPRESSION OF AQP4 IN RAT EYES / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To define the expression of AQP4 in normal rat eyes at transcriptional and translational level, so as to provide morphological bases for the mechanisms of water transport in eyes. Methods Immunohistochemical SABC method and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression and localization of AQP4 in normal rat eyes. Results The corneal epithelium, the iridal pigment epithelium cells, the nonpigment epithelium cells of ciliary body, the lens epithelium cells, the lens fiber cells, the outer nuclear layer cells, and the inner nuclear layer cells, the ganglion cells of the retina showed positive immunoreactivity of AQP4. The reactive substance was distributed in membrane but not in nuclei of all positive cells. The resuIts of in situ hybridization were identical with that of immuohistochemistry method. AQP4 mRNA could be detected in the cytoplasm of positive immunoreactive cells, however, nuclei were negative. Conclusion The results implied that AQP4 could coordinate with other AQP4 to play an important role in the secretion and regulation of aqueous humor, the maintenance of the diaphaneity of cornea and lens, the motivation and transmission of optesthesia.;