Aquaporins in complex tissues: distribution of aquaporins 1-5 in human and rat eye

The cellular and subcellular sites of aquaporin (AQP) water transport proteins in the eye are defined using immuno-blotting, high-resolution immunocytochemistry and immuno-electron microscopy of intact human and rat tissues. Results reveal selective expression of AQP1, AQP3, AQP4 and AQP5 in distinct epithelia while assigning specific roles for each one in the complex network through which water movements take place in the eye.