Aquaporin1–3 expression in normal and hydronephrotic kidneys in the human fetus

Background Decreased expression of the renal aquaporin (AQP) protein family is associated with hydronephrosis in adult humans and animals. However, the expression of AQPs, especially subtypes AQP1–3, which play a core role in the urinary concentration function, in hydronephrotic human fetuses is not clear. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of the AQP1–3 in normal and hydronephrotic human fetal kidneys. Methods Twenty-one normal and six hydronephrotic kidney (HK) samples were harvested from abortive fetuses. Meanwhile, seven normal adult human kidney samples were collected as positive controls. Quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of AQP1–3. Results Both the protein and messenger mRNA expression levels of AQP1–3 increased with gestational age in the normal fetuses, but the levels were significantly lower than those in the adult tissues and significantly higher than those in the hydronephrotic fetuses at the same gestational age. Conclusions The increased expression of AQP1–3 with gestational age in the fetal kidney may indicate maturation of the urinary concentrating ability. The lower expression of AQP1–3 in HKs may reflect a maturation obstacle with regard to urinary concentration in human hydronephrotic fetuses.