Tear secretion by lacrimal glands in transgenic mice lacking water channels AQP1, AQP3, AQP4 and AQP5

The expression of three aquaporin (AQP)-type water channels has been reported in the lacrimal gland: AQP5 in the apical membranes of acinar and duct cells, AQP4 in the basolateral membranes of acinar cells, and AQP1 in microvascular endothelia. Recent experiments indicate that water movement through AQP5 in the salivary gland is important in saliva secretion. To investigate the role of aquaporins in lacrimal gland function, basal and pilocarpine-stimulated tear secretion was compared in wildtype mice and knockout mice lacking AQP1, AQP4 and AQP5, as well as AQP3, which was found here to be expressed in the basolateral membrane of acinar cells. Tear fluid was collected in anesthetized mice using microcapillary tubes before and at 4 min intervals after pilocarpine administration. Tear fluid volumes were (in microliter per 4 min, S.E.): 0.69 +/- 0.06 (wildtype mice), 0.70 +/- 0.07 (AQP1 -/-), 0.81 +/- 0.13 (AQP3 -/-), 0.62 +/- 0.14 (AQP4 -/-), and 0.78 +/- 0.09 (AQP5 -/-) (differences not significant). Chloride concentrations (average 155 +/- 13 mM) measured by a fluorescence assay were also not different in tear fluid collected from wildtype vs aquaporin null mice. These findings provide direct evidence against an essential role for aquaporins in lacrimal gland fluid secretion. The requirement for aquaporins in salivary but not lacrimal gland secretion, may involve the substantially slower fluid secretion rate across lacrimal gland acinar cells.