Objective To investigate the changes of aquaporin （AQP-1） expressions on peritonea in liver cirrhotic rats with ascites,and to study the correlation between AQP-1 expressions and ascites form.Methods32 healthy Sprague-Dawley（SD） rats were divided into two groups randomly, 20 rats were used to produce liver cirrhotic models induced with phenobarbitol sodium and CCl4. The distribution and protein expressions of AQP-1 on the rats′ peritonea were measured with immunohistochemistry assay, and the expressions of APQ-1 mRNA were tested with relative GAPDH quantitative RT-PCR. Results （1）The expressions of AQP-1 were mainly on the endothelial cells of capillary vessels and venules on the rats′ peritonea, and also on mesothelial cells. （2）There was no statistically significant difference between the expressions of AQP-1 protein and mRNA in the two groups on the early stage of liver cirrhosis. （3） Downregulations of the expressions of AQP-1 protein and mRNA were observed in B group on the advanced cirrhotic stage.Conclusion Expressions of AQP-1 were downregulated on the peritonea of rats with decompensated liver cirrhosis, which may play a role in the formation of ascites. The changes of AQP-1 Expressions on peritoneal mesothelial cells which were fewer than those on the endothelial cells may be few relations to ascites form.
