Functions of water channels in male and female reproductive systems

Dan Zhang, Zhang D, Ya‐Jing Tan, Ya-Jing Tan, Tan YJ, Fan Qu, Sheng JZ, Jian-Zhong Sheng, Jian‐Zhong Sheng, He-Feng Huang, Huang HF, He‐Feng Huang
Molecular aspects of medicine · 2012 · vol. 33(5-6) , pp. 676–690 · doi:10.1016/j.mam.2012.02.002 · PMID:22343019 · W2033207305
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This paper reviews the roles of aquaporins, a type of water channel protein, within the male and female reproductive systems.

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Abstract

Twelve water channels (aquaporins) are expressed in mammalian reproductive systems, and play very important roles in maintaining water homeostasis in reproductive cells. Impairment of their functions can result in attenuated male and female fertility. Alteration of AQPs expression is also found in reproductive tissues of the patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis or endometrium carcinoma. A lot of data have increased understanding of the functions and mechanisms of regulation of aquaporins at both the molecular and the clinical level. Researches have also focused on aquaporins as therapeutic targets. This review discusses recent advances in uncovering the physiological and pathophysiological roles of aquaporins in the reproductive systems.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Aquaporins Fertility Genitalia, Female Genitalia, Male Gonads Reproduction Water Aquaporins Aquaporins Aquaporins Endometrial Neoplasms Endometrial Neoplasms Endometrial Neoplasms Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Fertility Gene Expression Genitalia, Female

Citation neighborhood

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References (100)

Cited by (5)

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-07-31T06:09:14.520117+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-04T00:00:01.174412+00:00
pubmed
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License: CC0 · commercial use OK