The discovery of aquaporins, which constitute a family of integral membrane proteins, has meant a change with respect to the understanding of water transport in biological membranes. The most important is aquaporin 4 (AQP4) which we will focus on below, although there are two other aquaporins, 1 and 9. These aquaporins are of great importance in the physiology of cell volume control and osmotic control mechanisms of the cells. Also in the control of the flow of glycerol and other solutes. In addition, alterations in its functioning have been related to various diseases of the central nervous system such as neuromyelitis optics, cerebral edema, idiopathic intracranial hypertension or chronic hydrocephalus of the adult among others. A review is made on this topic.
cerebrospinal fluid
Las Aquaporinas y el Sistema Nervioso Central. Aquaporins and Central Nervous System.
Palabras clave: Aquaporin 1,
Aquaporin 4,
Aquaporins,
central nervous system,
Cerebrospinal fluid,
Intracranial hypertension,
Hidrocefalia de Presión Normal. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a pathology causing dementia that is reversible. Despite the time elapsed since its discovery, its pathophysiology has not been clearly established and two theories have been proposed that try to explain the process, one based on changes in cerebrospinal fluid flow and the other on cerebral blood flow. In addition, the evaluation and diagnosis process is not determined, since there is no standard method and the symptoms are similar to other pathologies of the central nervous system, leading to the diagnosis as the summation of clinical symptoms and some findings in imaging which are not always constant.
