Meeting Abstract
P2.155 Monday, Jan. 5 Distribution of aquaporin water channels in osmoregulatory tissues of the rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) MONSON, SM*; POWERS, DR; SCHMITT, JM; KIMBERLY, DJ; George Fox University, Newberg, OR; George Fox University, Newberg, OR; George Fox University, Newberg, OR; George Fox University, Newberg, OR smonson06@georgefox.edu
In urodeles, the ventral skin, kidneys, and intestine are important osmoregulatory organs that play a key role in the maintenance of water balance. Because of the ease with which water moves across these tissues it is expected that a variety of aquaporin water channels (AQP) act as a gateway for bulk water flow through tissue surfaces. To better understand the role of AQPs through these tissues we examined the distribution of AQPs in each of these tissues. Specifically we focused on homologs to mammalian AQPs 1,2, and 4 which play important roles in the mammalian kidney. AQP 2 was of particular interest because it is hormonally regulated in mammals and might be used to control water flow in aquatic and extremely moist environments as well as in arid conditions. To do our work we field collected rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) and harvested immediately ventral skin, kidney, and intestine. Standard procedures were used in performing western blots to demonstrate the presence of AQP in these tissues. Western Blot showed AQP 1 and AQP2 to be relatively abundant in the bladder, kidney, and intestine and have lower levels of expression in the ventral skin relative to ERK 1 and ERK 2. However, they appeared to be present in all tissues examined. AQP1 localization in the ventral skin appeared in the epithelia along with AQP2 and AQP4. Newt kidney showed clear localization of AQP1 and AQP2 around the proximal and distal convoluted tubules. Localization of AQPs 1 and 2 appeared lining the lumen of the intestine along with AQP4 in the smooth muscle of the cross section. The knowledge of the urodele model can only broaden our scope and understanding of AQPs in amphibians and the physiology of animals in general.
