Objective: To determine the expression of Aquaporin 8(AQP8) in the fetal membrane and placenta of idiopathic polyhydramnios.
Methods: The amnion, chorion and placenta were collected from 12 term pregnancies with idiopathic polyhydramnios( polyhydramnios group) and 12 term pregnancies who were normal (control group). The expression of AQP8 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of AQP8 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry.
Results: The expression of AQP8 mRNA in amnion, chorion and placenta of polyhydramnios group was (0.78 +/- 0.13), (0.58 +/- 0.10), and (0.86 +/- 0.15) respectively, and that of control group was (0. 39 0.07), (0.45 +/- 0.09), and (0.34 +/- 0.09) respectively. The expression of AQP8 protein in amnion, chorion and placenta of polyhydramnios group was (0.195 +/- 0.024), (0.170 +/- 0.028), and (0.193 +/- 0.024) respectively, and that of control group was (0.151 +/- 0.018), (0.156 +/- 0.024), and (0.152 +/- 0.023) respectively. In all 3 types of tissues the expression of AQP8 mRNA of polyhydramnios group was higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). In amnion and placenta the expression of AQP8 protein of polyhydramnios group was also increased compared to that of control group (P < 0.05), but in chorion the difference in AQP8 protein expression between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The expression of AQP8 mRNA and protein is significantly increased in the amnion and placenta of polyhydramnios, suggesting that AQP8 may play an important role in the regulation of amniotic fluid volume.