Possible role of placental aquaporins in apoptotic processes during preeclampsia.

SZPILBARG NATALIA; RECA ALEJANDRA; DIETRICH VALERIA; REPETTO MARISA; MASKIN BERNARDO; JAIME MARINA; CASTRO-PARODI MAURICIO; DAMIANO, ALICIA E

Foz de Iguazu

Simposio; V LatinAmerican Symposium on Maternal-Fetal Interaction & Placenta; 2013

Placenta Association of the Americas- Grupo Latinoamericano de placenta

Apoptosis increases progressively throughout pregnancy, being exagger- ated in preeclamptic placentas probably because of intermittent perfusion. Previously, in preeclamptic placentas, we observed changes in AQP3, 4 and 9 localization and a decrease in AQP3 accompanied by an increase in AQP9 expression. Moreover, we reported a reduced transcellular water transport. Until now, the roles of placental AQPs are speculative. Recently, AQPs were associated to cell shrinkage during apoptosis.We aimed to determine whether alterations in AQPs expression in preeclamptic placentas are related to apoptosis. Term placental explants (Ethics Committee Approval) were cultured in different oxygen tensions. AQPs expression and water uptake were analyzed. After AQPs inhibition with HgCl2, Hoechst staining, Bax expression, DNA fragmentation and Caspase-3 activity were evaluated. In hypoxia/reoxygenation, AQPs expression and functionality showed the same pattern observed in preeclampsia. Interestingly, mercurial inhibition caused a decrease in all studied apoptosis parameters. Our results suggest that placental AQPs may be involved in apoptosis.