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Osmotic water permeability diversification in primary trophoblast cultures from aquaporin 1‐deficient pregnant mice
Author(s) -
Sha XiaoYan,
Liu HuiShu,
Ma TongHui
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/jog.12737
Subject(s) - trophoblast , aquaporin , aquaporin 1 , water transport , microbiology and biotechnology , aquaporin 3 , andrology , biology , medicine , placenta , fetus , pregnancy , water flow , water channel , mechanical engineering , genetics , environmental engineering , engineering , inlet
Aim Aquaporins (AQP) are water channel proteins, and some play an important role in maternal–fetal fluid exchange. The present study aimed to measure the osmotic water permeability in primary cultures of trophoblast cells from AQP1‐deficient (AQP1 –/– ) pregnant mice and to define the quantitative role of AQP1 in water transport across the trophoblast plasma membrane. Material and Methods Trophoblast cells were obtained from placental tissue cell culture of AQP1 –/– pregnant mice and were characterized by cytokeratin 7 immunostaining. The expression of the AQP1 gene in trophoblast cells of wild‐type (AQP1 +/+ ) mice was confirmed by immunofluorescence. The osmotic water permeability of trophoblast plasma membranes was measured by a calcein fluorescence quenching method in response to osmotic gradients. Results A primary cell culture system for trophoblasts was successfully established. Immunofluorescence showed the expression of AQP1 in the trophoblast cell membrane of AQP1 +/+ mice. The osmotic water permeability of AQP1 –/– trophoblast cells was significantly lower than that in AQP1 +/+ trophoblast cells, in response to both hypotonic and hypertonic challenges. Conclusion The results suggest an important role of AQP1‐mediated plasma membrane water permeability in maternal–fetal fluid balance and also provide a potential direction for the identification of therapeutic targets for the treatment of abnormalities in amniotic fluid volume.