TY - JOUR
T1 - Localization of aquaporins, water channel proteins, in the mouse eustachian tube
AU - Takahashi, Etsu
AU - Kikuchi, Toshihiko
AU - Katori, Yukio
AU - Kobayashi, Toshimitsu
N1 - Funding Information:
We wish thank MsYuko Mizoe and Mr Kei Kikuchi for their technical assistance. This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Science Research (no. 19591953 to Y.K.) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Conclusion. Immunolocalization of the subtypes of water channel proteins, aquaporins (AQPs), was detected in the mouse eustachian tube (ET). AQPs are located continuously from the serous glands and the capillary vessels to the luminal side in the ET epithelium and may play an important role in the transportation of water to the surface of the ET lumen through the epithelium. Objectives. Although the water supply to the surface of the ET lumen is considered to be essential for closing of the ET, the pathway of the water in the ET is not fully understood. Since AQPs, a group of water transport proteins, have been reported to regulate water homeostasis, we examined the location of AQPs in the mouse ET. Materials and methods. Nine subtypes of AQPs were examined in paraffin embedded ETs of adult mice using the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method of immunohistochemistry. Results. Four subtypes of AQPs were detected in the mouse ET. AQP-1 was detected in fibroblasts, endothelial cells of capillary vessels and cartilage cells. AQP-3 was distinctly detected in the basal membrane of epithelial cells. AQP-4 was detected in the basal membrane of epithelial cells. AQP-5 was expressed in the luminal side of the ET epithelial cells and also in the apical surface of the cells of the serous glands.
AB - Conclusion. Immunolocalization of the subtypes of water channel proteins, aquaporins (AQPs), was detected in the mouse eustachian tube (ET). AQPs are located continuously from the serous glands and the capillary vessels to the luminal side in the ET epithelium and may play an important role in the transportation of water to the surface of the ET lumen through the epithelium. Objectives. Although the water supply to the surface of the ET lumen is considered to be essential for closing of the ET, the pathway of the water in the ET is not fully understood. Since AQPs, a group of water transport proteins, have been reported to regulate water homeostasis, we examined the location of AQPs in the mouse ET. Materials and methods. Nine subtypes of AQPs were examined in paraffin embedded ETs of adult mice using the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method of immunohistochemistry. Results. Four subtypes of AQPs were detected in the mouse ET. AQP-1 was detected in fibroblasts, endothelial cells of capillary vessels and cartilage cells. AQP-3 was distinctly detected in the basal membrane of epithelial cells. AQP-4 was detected in the basal membrane of epithelial cells. AQP-5 was expressed in the luminal side of the ET epithelial cells and also in the apical surface of the cells of the serous glands.
KW - Patulous eustachian tube
KW - Subtypes of aquaporins
KW - cartilage cells
KW - endothelial cells of capillary vessels
KW - eustachian tube epithelium
KW - immunohistochemistry
KW - regulation of water homeostasis
KW - serous glands
KW - water transport
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U2 - 10.1080/00016480902964317
DO - 10.1080/00016480902964317
M3 - Article
C2 - 19848244
AN - SCOPUS:79960489606
VL - 129
SP - 67
EP - 70
JO - Acta Oto-Laryngologica
JF - Acta Oto-Laryngologica
SN - 0001-6489
IS - SUPPL. 562
ER -