Aquaporins (AQPs) are a group of small, integral membrane proteins which play an important role in fluid homeostasis in the reproductive system. In our previous study, we demonstrated AQP1, 5 and 9 protein expression and localization in the porcine oviduct. The presence of these isoforms could suggest their role in the transport of the ovum to the uterus by influencing the epithelial cells' production of oviductal fluid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of AQP1, AQP5 and AQP9 in the infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus in the porcine oviduct during the estrous cycle (early luteal phase, days 2-4, medium luteal phase, days 10-12, late luteal phase days 14-16, follicular phase days 18-20) and pregnancy (period before implantation, days 14-16 and after the implantation, days 30-32) using the Real-Time PCR technique. As clearly demonstrated for the first time, AQP1, 5, and 9 gene expression is influenced by the estrus cycle and pregnancy. Furthermore, expression of AQPs in the porcine oviduct may provide the physiological medium that sustains and enhances fertilization and early cleavage-stage embryonic development. Overall, our study provides a characterization of oviduct AQPs, increasing our understanding of fluid homeostasis in the porcine oviduct to successfully establish and maintain pregnancy.

2 Department of Cardiology and Internal Medicine Collegium Medicum School of Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury 10 719 Olsztyn Poland

2 Department of Cardiology and Internal Medicine University Clinical Hospital in Olsztyn Warszawska 30 10 082 Olsztyn Poland

Department of Anatomy Poznan University of Medical Sciences 61 701 Poznan Poland

Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn 10 719 Olsztyn Poland

Department of Basic and Preclinical Sciences Institute of Veterinary Medicine Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun 87 100 Torun Poland

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics School of Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn 10 752 Olsztyn Poland

Department of Histology and Embryology; Poznan University of Medical Sciences 61 701 Poznan Poland

Department of Human Histology and Embryology School of Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn 10 752 Olsztyn Poland

Department of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology School of Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn 10 752 Olsztyn Poland

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital and Masaryk University 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Veterinary Surgery Institute of Veterinary Medicine Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun 87 100 Torun Poland

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