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AQP7 Up-Regulation in the Skeletal Muscles of Mice with Diet Induced Obesity

Yoshihiro Wakayama, Satoshi Hirako, Takahiro Jimi and Seiji Shioda

Aquaporin (AQP) 7 and AQP9 are membrane proteins and are the members of aquaglyceroporin which transports glycerol in addition to water molecule. Glycerol is a direct source of glycerol-3 phosphate for the synthesis of triglycerides. We thought that the expression of AQP7 and AQP9 would be altered in the skeletal myofibers in mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO) as compared with that of control chaw-fed mice. RNA and protein levels of AQP7 and AQP9 were studied in the quadriceps femoris muscles of mice with DIO and normal control mice. Real time quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that mouse AQP7 mRNA levels in skeletal muscles were significantly higher in mice with DIO than in normal control mice (P<0.01); whereas mouse AQP9 mRNA levels were not different between the two groups (P>0.05). Histochemically the myofibers of mice with DIO contained numerous lipid droplets in oil red O stain samples. Immunohistochemical study of DIO mouse muscles showed enhanced expression of AQP7 at the myofiber surface membranes; while AQP9 expression appeared to be similar to that of normal control mice. These findings imply that the up-regulated expression of AQP7 in DIO mouse muscles facilitates the secretion of glycerol from myocytes.