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[Water channels of the cell--aquaporins]
1Medisinsk avdeling Haukeland Sykehus, Bergen.
Background:
Several mechanisms in the body regulate the water transport within the cells up and down during physiological and pathological conditions. The discovery of aquaporins, water channel proteins, has brought more insight into and understanding of how water crosses plasma membranes within cells in body tissue.
Material And Methods:
The functions of aquaporins are not fully understood; this paper summarise current knowledge of various aquaporins.
Results:
Known aquaporins are discussed in relation to some physiological, pathological and clinical conditions.
Interpretation:
In the future, measurements of aquaporin concentrations in urine and possibly in other samples will give us a broader picture of water exchange and a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying water production in clinical states like renal and heart failure and liver insufficiency. Moreover, by manipulating water channel proteins by compounds developed for this purpose, one may have a tool for treating some clinical disorders in which water depletion or water overload is an important factor.