新西兰兔脊髓内水通道蛋白-4的定位与表达

Expression and distribution of aquaporin-4 in spinal cord of New Zealand rabbits

目的:探讨正常新西兰大白兔脊髓水通道蛋白-4(AQP4)的定位与表达,为研究其在脊髓水代谢中的作用提供理论基础.方法:选用正常成年新西兰大白兔,采用免疫组化和原位杂交技术检测脊髓AQP4蛋白及其mRNA的定位及表达.结果:免疫组织化学染色和原位杂交结果显示胶质细胞、前角运动神经元、中央管室管膜细胞、软脊膜上皮细胞均表达阳性,AQP4主要分布于细胞膜,其中,胶质细胞和中央管室管膜细胞表达存在极性,前者主要分布在与毛细血管内皮细胞接触的一侧,后者主要分布在中央管室管膜细胞的基底侧膜.结论:AQP4在正常兔脊髓内具有广泛的表达,其表达的解剖定位提示AQP4在脊髓内主要参与水分子的转运及平衡调节、电解质代谢,并受局部调节以适应特殊的功能需求.

AIM： To examine the expression and distribution of aquaporin-4 （AQP-4） in normal spinal cord of rabbits, so as to provide theoretical basis for the role of AQP-4 in spinal water transport and balance regulation. METHODS： Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed on spinal paraffin sections from healthy adult rabbits to detect the expression and distribution of AQP4 protein and mRNA. RESULTS： The positive cells mostly included ependymal cells of myelocoele, glial cells, anterior horn motor neurons, and epithelial cells of spinal pia mater and their expressions were mainly located on cell membrane. Interestingly, AQP4 distribution in glial cells and ependymal cells showed certain directivity, but the former was mainly in the membrane side contacting with capillary endothelial cells and the latter mostly in the basolateral membrane of ependymal cells. CONCLUSION： AQP4 is widely expressed in rabbit spinal cord and its anatomical locations suggest the AQP4 may be involved in spinal cord water transport and balance regulation and electrolyte metabolism, even can be locally regulated to meet special functional request.