Aquaporins in Fetal Development

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017:969:199-212. doi: 10.1007/978-94-024-1057-0_13.

Abstract

Water homeostasis during fetal development is of crucial physiologic importance. The successful formation and development of the placenta is critical to maintain normal fetal growth and homeostasis. The expression of several aquaporins (AQPs ) was found from blastocyst stages to term placenta and fetal membranes. Therefore, AQPs are proposed to play important roles in normal pregnancy, fetal growth, and homeostasis of amniotic fluid volume, and water handling in other organs. However, the functional importance of AQPs in fetal development remains to be elucidated.

Keywords: Aquaporin; Fetal development; Water; Water channel.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amniotic Fluid / chemistry
  • Amniotic Fluid / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Aquaporin 1 / genetics
  • Aquaporin 1 / metabolism*
  • Blastocyst / metabolism*
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / genetics
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / metabolism
  • Extraembryonic Membranes / growth & development
  • Extraembryonic Membranes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fetal Development / physiology*
  • Fetus
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Insulin / genetics
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Placenta / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Water / metabolism*

Substances

  • AQP1 protein, human
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Insulin
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Water
  • Aquaporin 1