EMBRYO BIOLOGY The expression and distribution of aquaporin 3 in mouse

Purpose To determine the role of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) isoform in early embryonic development and protecting embryos subjected to freeze–thawing for assisted reproduc-tion, we investigated the expression and distribution of AQP3 in mouse embryos at different developmental stages before and after vitrification. Methods Eight-cell embryos, morulae, and blastocysts were obtained from female mice that had been superovulated by controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Immunofluorescence staining, laser confocal microscopy, and Western blot were used to determine the expression and distribution of AQP3 in preimplantation mouse embryos before and after vitrification. Results AQP3 was expressed at the 8-cell to blastocyst stage before and after vitrification. The expression and distribution of AQP3 was developmentally regulated at the 8-cell to blastocyst stage. The expression of AQP3 was significantly decreased in 8-cell embryos and early blasto-cysts after vitrification. However, at the morulae stage, the expression of AQP3 was increased after vitrification. Conclusions The developmental and vitrification-dependent changes in AQP3 expression and distribution suggest that this transmembrane channel might regulate mouse embryo development and contribute to the protective response during vitrification