Expression and distribution of aquaporinª²4 in spinal cord of New Zealand rabbits

    SUN Guoª²Zhu, ZHANG Qingª²Jun, ZHAO Zongª²Mao, ZHANG Gengª²Shen, WANG Hao

    Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China, Department of Neurosurgery, People¬ðs Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100044, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To examine the expression and distribution of aquaporinª²4(AQPª²4) in normal spinal cord of rabbits, so as to provide theoretical basis for the role of AQPª²4 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. ......