Aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-3 expressions in the intervertebral disc of rats with aging

Abstract

Objective: The intervertebral disc (IVD) undergoes biochemical and morphologic degenerative changes during the process of aging. Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water channel proteins that facilitate water and small solute movement in tissues and may have a potential role in the aging degeneration of IVDs. One of the important problems in understanding disc degeneration is to fnd cellular molecules which contribute to the patho- genesis of IVDs. XThe aim of this study was to demonstrate the expression of aquaporin 1 and 3 in nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fbrosus (AF) cells of rat lumbar intervertebral discs from both young and aged animals using immunohistochemistry. Material and Methods: Twenty Wistar-albino rats were included in the study. The rats were separated into two groups: 2-month-old rats (n=10) as the young group, 18-month-old rats (n=10) as the old group. The intervertebral disc tissues obtained from the lumbar spine (L1-L4, 4 discs) were used for immunohistochemical staining of AQP-1 and 3. Results: This study demonstrated that AQP-1 and AQP-3 immunoreactivity signifcantly decreased in NP and AF of aged rats compared to the young rats. Conclusion: We suggest that AQP-1 and 3 may contribute to the age related degeneration of the intervertebral disc. © Trakya University Faculty of Medicine.