F. Umenishi et al., SHARP INCREASE IN RAT LUNG WATER CHANNEL EXPRESSION IN THE PERINATAL-PERIOD, American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, 15(5), 1996, pp. 673-679
Three members of the water channel (aquaporin) family are expressed in
adult rat lung: CHIP28 (AQP-1), MIWC (AQP-4), and AQP-5. Because wate
r channels may be important in the clearance of fluid from the newborn
lung, the expression of water channels just before and after birth wa
s investigated using the ribonuclease (RNAse) protection assay. RNA wa
s isolated from lungs, brain, and heart of prenatal rats (fetal days F
19, F20, and F21) and postnatal rats (days +1, +2, +5, +7, +21, and ad
ult). Transcript expression was measured relative to a beta-actin cont
rol by quantitative densitometry. Whereas beta-actin mRNA expression w
as nearly constant over time, distinct expression patterns were observ
ed for the three water channels. CHIP28 mRNA expression rose slowly fr
om days F19 to +1, then strongly at day +2, and remained elevated over
the first week. MIWC mRNA was weakly expressed prenatally, but strong
ly increased just after birth. AQP-5 mRNA increased slowly and monoton
ically between days F20 and +7. These patterns contrasted sharply with
the developmental expression of CHIP28 in heart, which decreased over
time, and MIWC in brain. Immunocytochemistry showed CHIP28 protein ex
pression in capillary endothelia and MIWC in airway epithelia by day 1; quantitative immunoblot analysis showed increased CHIP28 protein ex
pression over time. These findings are consistent with a role of lung
water channels in perinatal fluid clearance; however, proof of physiol
ogic significance will require functional measurements of air space-ca
pillary water permeability.