Abstract: Objective To study the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein in preeclampsia(PE) model rats. Methods Adult
SD rats were divided into PE model group (n=7) induced by endotoxin, normal pregnancy group (n=6) and non-pregnancy
group (n=12) treated with an equal volume of saline. AQP4 protein expression in the brain of the rats was detected with
immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. Results The blood pressure in PE model rats (135 ± 9 mmHg) was
significantly higher than that in normal pregnancy rats (116±8 mmHg) and non-pregnancy rats (112±6 mmHg) (P<0.02). The
rats in PE model group showed obvious proteinuria compared with the other two groups (3.8±0.5 vs 2.6±0.6 and 2.3±0.4, P<
0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that AQP4 protein was localized primarily around the brain parenchymal blood vessels.
Western analysis revealed a significantly elevated AQP4 protein expression in PE model group (39.6±4.9) compared with that
in normal pregnancy group (26.5±4.3) and non-pregnancy group (9.7±2.1) (P<0.01). Conclusion The up-regulation of AQP4
protein around the intraparenchymal blood vessels of the brain may play a role in the development of eclampsia.