Aquaporin 11 in the developing mouse submandibular gland.

Several aquaporins (AQPs) have been detected in mature and embryonic mammalian salivary glands (AQP1 and AQP3-AQP8). However, AQP11 has, to our knowledge, never before been described in salivary glands, but is known to be important in, for example, kidney development in mice. We therefore thought it relevant to investigate if AQP11 was present during salivary organogenesis. The submandibular salivary gland (SMG) from CD1 mice was studied during prenatal development and early postnatal development, and also in young adult male and female mice. The expression trend of the AQP11 transcript was detected using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the temporal-spatial pattern was observed using in situ hybridization. The AQP11 transcript was first detected at embryonic day 13.5 and showed a more or less constitutive expression trend during the prenatal and early postnatal SMG development. Spatial studies demonstrated that the AQP11 transcript was present in the developing and mature duct structures at all stages studied. In the end pieces, the AQP11 transcript was reduced during glandular development. Our results point to an important role for AQP11 during salivary gland development.

Aquaporin expression patterns in the developing mouse salivary gland.

Little is known about the presence of the various membrane-located water channels, aquaporins (AQP), during the prenatal and postnatal development of the mouse submandibular salivary gland (SMG). To learn more about AQPs in the developing aspect of salivary glands, we investigated trends in the expression patterns of several AQPs using the embryonic, early postnatal, and young adult mouse SMGs as models. We have chosen AQPs previously found in salivary glands in other animals. Transcripts of AQPs 1, 3, 4, 5, and 8 were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantified. Aquaporin proteins 1, 3, 4, and 5, but not AQP protein 8, were detected and quantified using western blotting. The various AQPs showed distinct transcript and protein-expression patterns. The change in trends may indicate that the importance of the various AQPs varies throughout the developmental stages in the mouse SMG. Their presence might be related to cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, apoptosis, transepithelial transport, osmosensing, or cell volume regulation; all roles that in the literature are linked to the various AQPs. Overall, this study demonstrates that AQP presentation varies and has a specific expression pattern during the development of mouse SMG. This feature may be important for glandular anatomical and physiological development.

Aquaporin 5 distribution pattern during development of the mouse sublingual salivary gland.

Aquaporin 5 (AQP5) is important in salivary fluid secretion, and has been found in acinar cells of salivary glands in several species. Recently, studies have shown the AQP5 transcript and protein expression patterns as well as the temporal-spatial protein distribution during development of the mouse submandibular salivary gland. The AQP5 distribution pattern of the closely located sublingual gland (SLG) is, however, not well known. Thus, in this study, the Aqp5 RNA expression pattern and the temporal-spatial distribution of AQP5 protein in prenatal development and in adult mouse SLG was investigated. SLGs from embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) to 18.5 and postnatal days 0 (P0), 25, and 60 were examined using real time PCR and immunohistochemistry. The Aqp5 transcript was detected from E13.5 and was found to increase towards birth and in young adults. The protein was first detected in a scattered pattern in the canalicular stage and became more organized in the luminal membrane of the acinar cells towards birth. During all postnatal developmental stages studied, AQP5 was localized in the luminal and lateral membrane of acinar cells. AQP5 was also detected in the intercalated duct and additional apical membrane staining in the entire intralobular duct was found in the terminal bud stage. These results indicate that AQP5 plays a role during embryonic salivary gland development.

Localization of AQP5 during development of the mouse submandibular salivary gland.

Aquaporin 5 (AQP5) is known to be central for salivary fluid secretion. A study of the temporal-spatial distribution of AQP5 during submandibular gland (SMG) development and in adult tissues might offer further clues to its unknown role during development. In the present work, SMGs from embryonic day (E) 14.5-18.5 and postnatal days (P) 0, 2, 5, 25, and 60 were immunostained for AQP5 and analyzed using light microscopy. Additional confocal and transmission electron microscopy were performed on P60 glands. Our results show that AQP5 expression first occurs in a scattered pattern in the late canalicular stage and becomes more prominent and organized in the terminal tubuli/pro-acinar cells towards birth. Additional apical membrane staining in the entire intralobular duct is found just prior to birth. During postnatal development, AQP5 is expressed in both the luminal and lateral membrane of pro-acinar/acinar cells. AQP5 is also detected in the basal membrane of acinar cells at P25 and P60. In the intercalated ducts at P60, the male glands show apical staining in the entire segment, while only the proximal region is positive in the female glands. These results demonstrate an evolving distribution of AQP5 during pre- and postnatal development in the mouse SMGs.