PsychologyAugust 10, 2026
aquaporin
AK-wuh-por-in
Definition
A type of protein channel in the cell membrane that facilitates the rapid transport of water across the cell, often used in scientific models to induce targeted cellular injury.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'aqua' (water) and 'porus' (pore), combined with the suffix '-in' denoting a protein. It was coined in the late 20th century to describe the specialized channels that regulate water flow in cells.
In the news
The article mentions aquaporin-4 as the target of specific antibodies used in a research model to intentionally cause localized astrocyte loss, allowing scientists to study how the brain repairs itself.
Regenerative Astrocytes Repair Brain Damage
Read the full article ↗Neuroscience News