Author/Authors :
Sales، نويسنده , , Antonia Debora and Brito، نويسنده , , Ivina Rocha and de Lima، نويسنده , , Laritza Ferreira and Lobo، نويسنده , , Carlos Henrique and Duarte، نويسنده , , Ana Beatriz Graça and Souza، نويسنده , , Carlos Eduardo Azevedo and Moura، نويسنده , , Arlindo Alencar and de Figueiredo، نويسنده , , José Ricardo and Rodrigues، نويسنده , ,
Ana Paula Ribeiro Rodrigues، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
The mRNA expression and localization of Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) were investigated in the ovarian follicles of ewes at different stages of development (primordial, primary, secondary, small, and large antral). The gene expression was quantified by qPCR, while the protein identification and localization were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Analysis revealed that AQP3 mRNA was detected only in the antral follicles, whereas the protein expression was detected in the oocyte and granulosa cells in all stages of follicular development. The latter observation suggests that the presence of AQP3 in follicles of all categories, especially in the antral follicles, provides novel insights on the mechanisms that regulate the flow of water between cells during the formation of antral follicles in sheep.
