Objective: To determine whether the aquaporins AQP1 and AQP5 are expressed in the alveolar capillary membrane (respiratory membrane) of rats, and then to study the expression regulation of AQP1 and AQP5 in rats with acute lung injury (ALI) and the effect of hormone intervention.
Methods: The distribution of AQP1 and AQP5 in the respiratory membrane was studied by immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy using the affinity anti-human AQP1 and AQP5 antibodies. Intraalveolar perfusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to make rat ALI animal model to study the changes of AQP1 and AQP5 in respiratory membrane during ALI.
RESULTS: Immunostaining showed that AQP1 was mainly expressed in the microvascular endothelium of normal lung tissue, while AQP5 was mainly expressed in alveolar type I epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical analysis further showed that the expressions of AQP1 and AQP5 in the respiratory membrane decreased from 4h to 48h after LPS perfusion; AQP1 protein partially recovered at 24h after LPS perfusion and after hormone intervention (P<0.05), but AQP5 had no such recovery.
CONCLUSION: The expression of AQP1 and AQP5 in the respiratory membrane decreases during ALI, suggesting that the decreased expression of AQP1 and AQP5 during ALI may be related to abnormal fluid transport.