The expression profile of aquaporin 1 in rat myocardium after severe burns

Background/aim: To investigate the myocardial expression profile of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in rats after severe burns. Materials and methods: Ninety healthy male adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the following treatments: sham operation (control group, n = 6), immediate fluid resuscitation treatment post scalding (IF group, n = 42), and delayed fluid resuscitation treatment after scalding (DF group, n = 42). At 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 h after scalding, myocardial water contents were assayed and AQP1 expressions were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. The AQP levels in the myocardium at 12 h after scalding were assayed by gene microarrays. Results: Scald injuries resulted in significantly synchronized increases in the myocardial water contents and the myocardial mRNA and protein expression of AQP1, with a peak at 12 h after scalding. Rats receiving delayed fluid resuscitation treatment had more severe myocardial edema and significantly higher myocardial AQP1 expressions than the rats receiving immediate fluid resuscitation treatment. The mRNAs of 6 other AQPs (AQP2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 12b) were found to be changed in the myocardium among rats with different treatments. Conclusion: AQP1 may play a functional role in the development of myocardial edema after scalding. Targeting AQP1 may provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention in myocardial edema following severe burns.