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Aquaporins

Aquaporins

Aquaporins or AQPs are a family of integral membrane proteins whose primary function is to transport water, while some called aquaglyceroporins also transport glycerol. In addition, aquaporins have also been suspected to be involved in transporting volatile substances, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, across membranes. Such AQPs that act as gas channels are often highly expressed in cells involved in the gaseous exchange, such as red blood cells, epithelial cells, and pulmonary capillaries.

Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment

Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment

In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...

Reabsorption and Secretion in the DCT and Collecting Duct

Reabsorption and Secretion in the DCT and Collecting Duct

The early phase of the DCT manages the reabsorption of approximately 10-15% of filtered water, 5–10% of filtered sodium, and 5–10% of filtered chloride. This process is facilitated by Na+–Cl− symporters in apical membranes and sodium-potassium pumps, as well as Cl− leakage channels in basolateral membranes. The early DCT also stands out as a site where parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates calcium reabsorption, depending on the body's requirements.
The distal...

Osmosis

Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of free water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. The water's concentration gradient across the membrane is inversely proportional to the solutes' concentration. Whereas diffusion transports material across membranes and within cells, osmosis transports only water across a membrane, and the membrane limits the diffusion of solutes in the water. Osmosis is a special case of diffusion.
Water, like other substances, moves from a high concentration of...

Osmoregulation in Fishes

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When cells are placed in a hypotonic (low-salt) fluid, they can swell and burst. Meanwhile, cells in a hypertonic solution—with a higher salt concentration—can shrivel and die. How do fish cells avoid these gruesome fates in hypotonic freshwater or hypertonic seawater environments?

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Tracking Single Proteins in Lipid Bilayers Using Fluorescence Microscopy

Tracking Single Proteins in Lipid Bilayers Using Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: December 12, 2025

Aquaporins in the Eye.

Thuy Linh Tran¹, Steffen Hamann², Steffen Heegaard²

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet - Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. thuylinh1@gmail.com.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

|March 5, 2017

Summary

Water movement is crucial for eye health, aiding waste removal and maintaining transparency. Aquaporins (AQPs) are key proteins facilitating this vital water transport throughout ocular tissues.

Keywords:

Aquaporin Eye Water Water channel

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Tracking Single Proteins in Lipid Bilayers Using Fluorescence Microscopy

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Trabecular Meshwork Response to Pressure Elevation in the Living Human Eye

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Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Physiology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Water and ion transport are essential for maintaining ocular physiological functions.
Maintaining transparency of optical compartments relies on fluid balance.
Metabolic waste removal from various eye tissues depends on continuous fluid movement.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the critical role of water and ion transport in the eye.
To explain the function of aquaporins (AQPs) in ocular fluid dynamics.
To underscore the importance of fluid balance for retinal and corneal health.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on ocular fluid transport.
Analysis of the physiological roles of water channels in the eye.
Examination of aquaporin involvement in different ocular compartments.

Main Results:

Water movement is vital for removing metabolic byproducts from the cornea, ciliary body, lens, and retina.
Corneal transparency is maintained by transport across the epithelium and endothelium.
Aqueous humor secretion by the ciliary body regulates intraocular pressure, and aquaporins facilitate these processes.

Conclusions:

Aquaporins (AQPs) play a significant role in regulating water transport across the eye.
Proper fluid dynamics are essential for maintaining ocular health, transparency, and function.
Understanding water and ion transport mechanisms is key to addressing various eye conditions.